Local P-9 strikers defy all odds; take on bosses, cops, bureaucrats
1986 1986-04Read it in the scan (PDF at ETOL), page 1 →
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International Outlook: Nicaragua today, pp. 7.12.
On March 14, the United Food and ordered the Austin, Minn., packinghouse workers' Local P-9 to end its strike against the Geo. A. Hormel & Co.
The UFCW bureaucracy, ending strike benefits of $40 per week, announced that it will continue to pay post-strike assistance to strikers who sign up and tell the Hormel bosses they are ready to go back to work.
On March 16, Local P-9 called an emergency meeting to deal with this blow from their own international union. Over 800 strikers voted by a large majority to stay out.
Later that week, on March 20, a demonstration of nearly 450 strikers completely closed down the Hormel plant for five hours. Austin cops, aided by sheriffs from the surrounding area, arrived several hours after the action began. Announcing that the demonstrators were in violation of an injunction, they ordered them to disperse.
Twenty-four strikers and supporters were arrested and carried away in two waiting vans. But when the cops attempted to fill a third van, the crowd of strikers and sup - porters, observing and shouting encourage -ment from across the street, moved in to block the way. Local P-9 leaders, in line with their plan, called off the action.
On March 25, the UFCW top official -dom, which had been vigorously campaign -ing against support to the strike, moved to (continued on page 4, in “P-9 president explains issues in Hormel strike”)
CORPORATION Simpson
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Staff: Amanda Chapman, Paul Colvin, May Ma care where ACTION
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P-9 issues call to shut down Hormel plant
ISÇAB LABOR