The 870 strikers are members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1540. Rochelle Foods slaughters approximately 7,000 hogs per day. The last time workers went out on strike was in 1986.
The company's first offer was a 70-cent raise over four years, a proposal voted down by a 99 percent margin by workers who also authorized the union to strike if needed. The company's next offer, an increase of only 10 cents, was opposed by 92 percent of union members voting.
"We deserve more. We can't accept that--it wouldn't even pay for a tank of gas," said Norah McKean, a packager in the hot dog department for eight years. Her wages are now $10.25 an hour.
A worker with three years experience in the kill department, who requested that his name not be used, said the union representatives reported in their meeting that the company justified its meager wage increase by pointing to the composition of the workforce. "They told us the management said Latinos can get by just fine with that little." Most production workers here are Latino.
Seņora Escatel, who works in hams, said the bosses' response was typical of the insulting and humiliating treatment the company has meted out for the 12 years she has worked there. "They are always trying to speed up the lines. When one of us gets hurt, they won't let us go to the nurse. If the belt stops working, they just expect us to push the meat on down the line, and it's heavy!... This treatment is discrimination. It has made us all mad."
A bacon-line worker, Angelica, added, "They're more willing to sacrifice us than the animals they're slaughtering." She described how she had to fight the company in order to get treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. "I tell everyone, don't be intimidated. Keep fighting. They can't get away with treating us like this. We're out here because we have to support our families."
Frank Rubio, a union steward, said workers who get injured are forced to come to work but do not get more than 36 hours of work. He said most workers do double shifts without overtime premium pay.
One worker who has worked in the plant's cutting department for six years expressed pride at the fact that the parking lot is empty and the strike has been so solid. "They don't want to give us a raise, but the bills keep on going up. Gas is 100 percent higher than last year. Our pay doesn't last the month. Each month we fall further behind. That's why we're out here."
Pattie Thompson is a meat packer in Chicago.
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