Dear Mr Orenstine;
Really good article.
It brought me back to the great Hormel strike in 1986.
There are probably as many opinions as possible on this event, which had
tectonic plate level impact on the industry.
My take;
Historically the Hormel plant had been a local business in Austin that was a
valued community institution. Like automobile manufacturing planets and
similar industries, the workers there considered themself middle class and
fortunate. Many of them were second and third generation employees. It was
possible to buy a home, and support a family as a meat packer.
The industry was changing. Union contracts around the country had been
decimating wages and benefits. The national union was taking the position that
there was no choice but to accept these new realities.
The local workers in Austin did not agree. They elected a slate of leaders
that were pledged to stop the trend. Their predictions were dire. They
claimed that if allowed to continue this trend would change the meat packaging
industry. That it would become the employee of last resort for immigrants,
illegals, and criminals. That the plants would get larger, safety would get
worse, wages and benefits would plummet and food quality would suffer.
Of course we know now that their prognostications were amazingly accurate,
although at the time, the industry, the National Union, and the state of
minnesota called them "radical" and woefully out of touch.
Their strike, against the instructions of their national union was epic. They
were disowned and kicked out of the Union and given no strike support. the
company was supported by the industry. All stops were pulled out.
The national Guard was called in, mass arrests, charges of "criminal
syndicalism ". All local lawyers were intimidated into refusing defense.
That’s where I got involved, working with the State bar of criminal defense
attorneys to recruit experienced defense lawyers, raising money for strike
support, and supporting strikers who held firm.
They lost of course. But the crises of this summer is, in part, an homage to
this history.
Can we go back to small producers, that value food quality and worker health
and safety? I don’t know if the trend can be bucked. I would say that the
Smithfield’s are too powerful. Smithfield is a multinational owned by Chinese
capitalists that is involved I. Criminal conduct all over the iron, but that is
another story. It would take the valuing of consumers, workers and community
over profit.
https://www.minnpost.com/greater-minnesota/2021/01/after-covid-related-livestock-kills-a-push-to-diversify-meat-processing-in-minnesota/
David Tilsen
612-281-8576
Really good article.
It brought me back to the great Hormel strike in 1986.
There are probably as many opinions as possible on this event, which had
tectonic plate level impact on the industry.
My take;
Historically the Hormel plant had been a local business in Austin that was a
valued community institution. Like automobile manufacturing planets and
similar industries, the workers there considered themself middle class and
fortunate. Many of them were second and third generation employees. It was
possible to buy a home, and support a family as a meat packer.
The industry was changing. Union contracts around the country had been
decimating wages and benefits. The national union was taking the position that
there was no choice but to accept these new realities.
The local workers in Austin did not agree. They elected a slate of leaders
that were pledged to stop the trend. Their predictions were dire. They
claimed that if allowed to continue this trend would change the meat packaging
industry. That it would become the employee of last resort for immigrants,
illegals, and criminals. That the plants would get larger, safety would get
worse, wages and benefits would plummet and food quality would suffer.
Of course we know now that their prognostications were amazingly accurate,
although at the time, the industry, the National Union, and the state of
minnesota called them "radical" and woefully out of touch.
Their strike, against the instructions of their national union was epic. They
were disowned and kicked out of the Union and given no strike support. the
company was supported by the industry. All stops were pulled out.
The national Guard was called in, mass arrests, charges of "criminal
syndicalism ". All local lawyers were intimidated into refusing defense.
That’s where I got involved, working with the State bar of criminal defense
attorneys to recruit experienced defense lawyers, raising money for strike
support, and supporting strikers who held firm.
They lost of course. But the crises of this summer is, in part, an homage to
this history.
Can we go back to small producers, that value food quality and worker health
and safety? I don’t know if the trend can be bucked. I would say that the
Smithfield’s are too powerful. Smithfield is a multinational owned by Chinese
capitalists that is involved I. Criminal conduct all over the iron, but that is
another story. It would take the valuing of consumers, workers and community
over profit.
https://www.minnpost.com/greater-minnesota/2021/01/after-covid-related-livestock-kills-a-push-to-diversify-meat-processing-in-minnesota/
David Tilsen
612-281-8576
