By a 52-to-48 percent margin, United Food and Commercial Workers local unions at five Hormel Foods Corporation plants ratified a new contract Monday.

Tuesday, September 14, 1999

By a 52-to-48 percent margin, United Food and Commercial Workers local unions at five Hormel Foods Corporation plants ratified a new contract Monday.

Exact vote totals weren’t announced.

Dick Koski, president of UFCW Local 9 in Austin, called it "the best package in the meatpacking industry."

Workers at UFCW Local 6, Algona, Iowa, Local 22, Fremont, Neb., Local 73A at Beloit, Wis., Local 1996 at Atlanta, Ga., and Local 9 in Austin approved the new pact.

"We are obviously very pleased that the majority of our employees voting on this contract chose to support it," said James A. Jorgenson, Hormel Foods’ vice president of human resources.

"Throughout the negotiation process, we were constantly challenged to propose changes that would be beneficial to the majority of employees, and address issues of specific concern to both parties," Jorgenson said.

"This agreement continues to provide Hormel Foods employees with the very best wage and benefit package in our industry, and recognized our ongoing commitment to them" he concluded.

According to union officials, base pay goes from $12.35 in the first year of the new four-year pact to $12.60 in the second, $12.85 in the third and $13 in the fourth.

Other improvements were to starting pay which goes from $9.25 to $10.35 per hour.

Also, the new pact offers health insurance at three months instead of the old six months point in employment.

Pensions will rise by approximately 15 percent. Increased dental, vision and short-term disability benefits are also a part of the new agreement.

More than 3,000 Hormel Foods Corporation workers at the five facilities are affected by the new contract.

The contract was due to expire last weekend until negotiators for both sides were able to reach an agreement.

Informational meetings were held Sunday to explain the pact to workers and the vote took place Monday.