Hormel Foods Corp. workers in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Georgia approved a four-year contract, which impacted health care, pension and wages.
Four locals of the United Food and Commercial Workers in Algona, Iowa; Austin, Minnesota; Beloit; and Atlanta approved the contract, which would impact 2,500 employees.
Hormel Foods (NYSE: HRL), based in Austin, Minnesota, produces a variety of deli meats, ethnic foods and pantry foods. Its Beloit facility at 3000 Kennedy Drive produces salsa, chili, hash and Spam. More than 300 employees work at the Beloit facility.
The new contract approved by UFCW Locals 6, 9, 1473 and 1996 strengthened workers’ wages and health care offerings, according to the union. All workers received increased wages, have access to affordable and quality health care and have protected and increased pensions.
“By strongly voting for a new contract that improves wages and benefits, thousands of our hardworking members sent a powerful message this week about the power that comes from workers standing together,” president of UFCW Locals 6, 9, 1473 and 1996 said in a press release.
UFCW is the largest private sector union in the U.S., representing 1.3 million professionals in the grocery store, meatpacking, food processing and retail shops industries.