Union rejects Hormel contract offer as ‘simply not good enough’

AUSTIN, Minn. — Members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 663 in Austin rejected Hormel Foods Corp.’s latest contract offer as “simply not good enough.”

The union local, which represents about 1,700 meatpacking workers in Austin, held a member vote on Wednesday and Thursday in Austin’s UFCW union hall.

“This week our coworkers voted overwhelmingly to reject Hormel’s final offer to us. It’s simply not good enough. We stand united and are willing to fight for more for our families and our community,” reads a statement sent by Jessica Hayssen of UFCW.

The union cited employee pay as a major issue in the negotiations.

“Hormel’s record profits are just wages not shared fairly with the rest of us. The reality is that we keep Hormel running. We demand that Hormel does better and comes to the table for a fair agreement quickly,” the UFCW statement says.

The current four-year contract approved in 2019 was set to expire on Sept. 10, 2023, but it has been extended to Oct. 8 as negotiations continue.

“We are disappointed in the vote, especially given the significant contract package offered, however we remain optimistic that we will reach agreement,” Hormel leaders wrote in a statement. “Hormel Foods has had strong working relationships with the UFCW for decades, including Austin, and remain confident that these positive relationships will continue as we finalize these new agreements.”

The union did not release any information about the next steps or if members will vote on the possibility of striking. UFCW also represents Hormel workers in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Georgia.

The Hormel plant in Austin was the site of a lengthy and heated strike in 1985-86 that drew national attention.