Pork processing workers stand up for health care, fair contract

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/articles/pork-processing-workers-stand-health-care-fair-contract

By Russell Raczkowski, Workday Minnesota
March 10, 2014

WORTHINGTON

The JBS pork processing plant in Worthington is a big operation, processing 20,000 hogs each day. Some 2,000 workers represented by United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1161 make that plant go: doing everything from production, to dock work, to maintenance.

Those UFCW members have labored without a contract since last June, when their previous agreement expired.Their work continues under a contract extension that could be voided with 72 hours’ notice.

Mike Potter, president of Local 1161, said that there have been several negotiation sessions and some areas of agreement on contractual language, but, “When we got to the health care portion of our negotiations, we knew we couldn’t accept the [company’s] proposal.”

Last Thursday, a team organized by Local 1161 braved a blustery raw March day to distribute flyers updating workers at the Worthington plant on contract negotiations and UFCW’s position. The group included plant workers, local UFCW leadership, community supporters, and a UFCW International Vice President.

FULL story at link.

[mtasselin]

1. Thank You

Thank you for bringing this to the attention of the public, keep us informed so if we need to we can boycott the products.