North Bergen, NJ - The Laundry, Distribution and Food Service Joint Board (LDFS), Workers United, SEIU, the Hudson County Central Labor Council, with the support of Congressman Robert Menendez Jr, and 32BJ SEIU and Make the Road NJ rallied today with workers outside multinational company Bergen Logistics to demand a fair first contract for newly organized workers with affordable health insurance.  They called for adequate paid time off, accessible health insurance and protection from extreme heat on the job.   

The event, hosted by the Laundry, Distribution and Food Service Joint Board (LDFS), Workers United, SEIU, which represents the workers at Bergen Logistics, and the Hudson County Central Labor Council, drew the support of Congressman Robert Menendez Jr., whose district (CD 8) includes North Bergen.

“Organized labor is the backbone of our economy," said Congressman Robert Menendez.  “I will always fight for fair pay and better workplace conditions, for workers at Bergen Logistics and across our state.”

Members of the New Jersey Congressional delegation, including:  Congressmembers Robert Menendez Jr., Donald Norcross, Analilia Mejia, Nellie Pou, Frank Pallone and Bonnie Watson-Coleman signed a joint letter to Bergen Logistics over the summer expressing concern about complaints they had received regarding bad working conditions at the facility, and delays in reaching agreement on a first contract.  Workers at Bergen Logistics organized with LDFS in 2025.

“We are standing together today to demand what every worker deserves: respect, dignity, and a fair union contract. Workers at Bergen Logistics have suffered long enough.  It’s time for this company to give these workers what they have been asking for since day one – health insurance they can afford, enough paid time off to spend with their families, and real protection from extreme heat on the job,” said LDFS Union Co-Manager Megan Chambers.

“We stand with the workers at Elanders/Bergen Logistics and will not allow workers who have voted for a union to be without a contract,” said Cristino Vilorio, President of the Hudson County Central Labor Council of AFL-CIO.  “The workers at this facility are our brothers and sisters.  We will be here, knocking at every door until they get a fair contract.”

Most of the workforce at Elanders’ Bergen Logistics is made up of women, who are in dire need of affordable health insurance and do not have enough paid time off to spend with and care for their families. The Company refuses to offer affordable health insurance to employees, and as a result, less than 5% of employees participate in the company’s health insurance plan. Workers also report dangerous conditions inside the facility, including extreme heat that threatens their health and safety.

“The vast majority of workers are women, working mothers. We process merchandise from a wide array of luxury brands. The company is successful, but the benefits we receive are completely inadequate,” said Jennifer Pimienta, employed by Bergen Logistics.  “My colleagues and I will continue this fight until there is fair treatment of warehouse workers at Bergen Logistics.”

Aracelis Medina, employed at Bergen Logistics, said, “I am one of the workers who couldn’t enroll in the company health insurance plan because of the cost.  This year, I had an urgent medical situation and personally experienced the importance of having affordable health insurance for workers. That’s why I support the struggle of my coworkers and the LDFS union to get a fair contract with health insurance that is affordable for all.  I don’t want any of my coworkers to have to go through what I went through.”

A year ago, warehouse workers at Bergen Logistics, a subsidiary of the global Elanders corporation based in Sweden, voted to join the union, yet they are still fighting for a fair contract.

Elanders’ Bergen Logistics is a major warehouse distribution center serving high-end apparel clients. Despite its success, the company continues to deny workers the basic improvements they need to support their families in dignity.  Workers are calling for affordable health insurance, adequate vacation time, and safer working conditions, fundamental standards that every employer should provide.

Bergen Logistics now faces new unfair labor practice charges. In 2025 the company was the subject of an investigation by the National Labor Relations Board-Region 22, which led to a complaint and a settlement.  Today, new charges have been filed with NLRB-Region 22 related to alleged retaliation by Bergen Logistics against an employee who stood up for the right to affordable healthcare.

The Laundry, Distribution and Food Service Joint Board, Workers United, SEIU comprises some 8,000 members who are the pillars of our society, Including thousands of warehouse distribution workers in New Jersey and the NYC metro area.  We are a diverse union that represents essential service workers who feed public school children, wash hospital linens, handle trash and distribute and deliver high end merchandise.  Our union is committed to winning for working families.