Potash was fired at the end of the day October 28 from her job as a utility worker in the precooked bacon department. In the “separation notice” the bosses handed Potash they said the reason for her firing was “probationary—no misconduct.” Potash had been employed by Hormel for 92 days. She was notified in writing when she was hired that she was “subject to a ninety (90) day probationary period.”

“My campaign is the reason I was fired, although Hormel will not likely ever admit to that,” Potash said in her open letter. She pointed out that her campaign had been covered numerous times in the local media and she had appeared on television days before her dismissal debating her opponent, Lisa Borders. The SWP campaign “supports organizing unions where they don’t exist, and strengthening them where they do, as well as solidarity between working people across the globe,” Potash said.

United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1996, which organizes Hormel workers, has filed a grievance against the firing as a violation of the union contract on the length of probation. Thirty of Potash’s co-workers have signed petitions calling for her reinstatement. “I don’t think it is fair,” said Hormel worker Alfred Kimber, who signed the petition.

Potash received 11 percent of the vote November 8. That day she joined a campaign team reaching out to Hormel workers outside the plant, including to win support for her fight for reinstatement.

Bill Arth is a member of UFCW Local 1996 and works at Hormel.
 
 
Related articles:
New York SWP mayoral candidate
‘The future is in hands of working people’
New Jersey: Socialist campaigners get hearing  
 
 
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