Vol. 72/No. 19      May 12, 2008

The bosses are asking for a five year contract with raises of 40 cents an hour at signing and 30 cents an hour each year after that. Their proposal includes no back pay to July 2007, when the previous contract expired, and a significant increase in what workers pay for medical coverage. Management has also refused the workers’ proposals to include some control of the line speed in the contract.

The union negotiating committee—made up of a dozen workers, two union staff members, and Don Seaquist, Local 789’s president—is opposing the company’s offer. The April 23 issue of Workers’ Voice, which is produced weekly in Spanish and English by workers in the plant, explained that when the increased medical costs are added to the low pay offers most workers will get a total raise of about $1 an hour or less after five years.

“We are only asking for what we deserve,” says the newsletter. “And first of all we deserve to be treated with respect, not offered deals that insult our intelligence and lower our standard of living. Our negotiating committee opposes the company’s unjust ‘offer.’ We continue to call for $.50/hour raise per year, including going back to July 2007, and no increase in medical costs.”

The Workers’ Voice continues, “We also need to continue to fight for safety on the job… . Injuries from serious cuts and fractures to strains and the wearing down of our joints occur every day. Last week more than one worker went to the hospital and clinic.” The workers are proposing the contract limit the line speed to a maximum of 94 cows an hour with a worker checking. “We won this in 2000 after our sitdown strike and we can win it again,” the newsletter explains.

UFCW Local 789 is one of the sponsors of a May Day march in St. Paul demanding legalization of all immigrants and an end to raids and deportations. In addition to supporting immigrant rights, Local 789 members from Dakota Premium will reach out for solidarity and publicize their fight when they join the demonstration. The union members are also organizing a contingent for the large Cinco de Mayo parade and celebration in St. Paul May 3.

Rebecca Williamson works in the boning department at Dakota and is a member of UFCW Local 789.
 
 
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