The Worthington Globe reports that members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1161, which represents 90 percent of the JBS ()Swift) pork processing facility’s workforce in the Nobles County city, have voted to authorize a strike.
Globe staff writer Julie Buntjer reports in Ready to strike:
Unionized employees at JBS voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to authorize a strike after 10 months of contract negotiations have failed to reach agreement in key areas involving health care and wages for workers at the Worthington plant.
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1161 hosted meetings for more than seven hours Tuesday with production and maintenance workers who represent roughly 90 percent of the local pork processing facility’s workforce. The result of those group meetings led to a unanimous vote to strike if necessary.
“This is a strike authorization,” explained UFCW Local 1161 President Mike Potter Tuesday night from the union’s Oxford Street office. “There are several steps after this vote that was taken today.”
The vote gives Potter and fellow union leaders the support they need to move forward with the labor dispute. He said he could not say if or when an actual strike would occur, but that employees “are ready.”
Union representatives have been working with a JBS representative who handles contract negotiations at processing facilities across the country. Potter said talks broke down last October.
“Since then we’ve been trying to push this company to let them know the workers deserve more,” he said. “They deserve a fair contract with fair wages and decent benefits, and that’s all we’re asking.”
The last time unionized employees at Worthington’s JBS facility received a pay increase was in June 2012. According to Potter, no pay increase is being offered by JBS in a new contract, and a change in health care would shift the burden onto employees. . . .
Read the rest at the Worthington Globe.
Photo: In Worthington, this is what Greater Minnesota looks like: UFCW Local 1161 President Mike Potter (third from left) joins unionized workers from JBS during meetings Tuesday to vote on a strike authorization. Workers are seeking affordable health care and better wages. Brian Korthals/Daily Globe.
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