Minnesota meat packers vote 2-1 to keep union (Defeat company-backed decertification drive)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.themilitant.com/2008/7206/index.shtml

BY CARLOS SAMANIEGO

SOUTH ST. PAUL, Minnesota—Workers from Dakota Premium Foods were greeted with cheers and clapping when they entered the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 789 hall January 25. The workers won an overwhelming victory in their fight to beat back a company-sponsored effort to decertify the union in the plant.

“We’re so happy. There aren’t words to explain it,” said Dakota worker Argelia Flores Díaz. “Now we have to stay together and fight for a better contract that gives us better wages and respect.”


Mike Dreyer
Members and supporters of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 789 celebrate their victory at the union hall in St. Paul, Minnesota, the evening after the vote.


The vote—152 for the union and 82 against—was an even greater margin of victory than the vote in 2000 that brought the union into the South St. Paul slaughterhouse. At that time workers responded to what they considered abusive conditions, especially the line speed, by organizing a sit- down strike in the lunchroom for more than seven hours. Coming out of that action, workers won union representation by United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 789, and after an almost two-year fight, won their first contract.

With the end of this contract in June 2007, a company-backed petition was circulated at the plant in an effort to decertify the union. Over the next six months union supporters responded. Pro-union workers, including a number who were involved in the earlier fight to win the local and contract, talked up the history of the struggle in the plant. Local 789 officials visited workers’ homes. Workers produced the Workers’ Voice newsletter to answer company lies. The newsletter also publicized the bosses’ attacks on workers and steps unionists were taking to stop unjust firings and other retaliatory discipline. At one point a delegation of workers went to management demanding that they stop denying union representatives entry into the plant.

“We needed to build momentum in the plant for this win, and we did it,” said Local 789 president Don Seaquist. “This goes beyond 789 and the UFCW. This is a message to workers that they have power.”

The day before the election 40 union supporters gathered outside the factory entrance at the end of the work shift. Some workers joined as they exited the plant. Chanting “Sí, se puede” (Yes we can) and “Union, Union,” they greeted workers in the freezing cold. Dozens held signs urging “Vote Yes.” Two large banners were held up, one saying “Union = Strength” in Spanish and English. The week before, thirty union supporters had demonstrated at the same gate.

FULL story at link.

[Peregrine Took]

1. What are they doing in the heinous burg of Austen?