Stanson, his wife Michelle, and other members of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 227 talked with reporters from the Militant about some of their views and experiences in the 18-month struggle.

Not much is known about the details of the contract, Stanson said. Another worker, Terry Sawyers, who has worked at the plant for two years, said he was happy about the improvements in the health-care plan. "The deductibles are now about half as much as they used to be," he explained.

Billy Rigney explained that he couldn't vote because the company excluded some classifications such as "premium pay" positions from the election. But he felt that the majority of the workforce was glad to win the union and a contract, "because they can see that someone's standing behind them."

According to workers at the plant, the company waged a dirty fight to prevent union organization. Michelle Stanson recalled how a pro-union worker in her department missed a day of work and was given 14 points, presumably covering past absences. "Twelve will get you fired," she said, but explained that union representatives helped her fight to keep her job.

Last June the National Labor Relations Board cited Cagle-Keystone and its managers with 153 violations of labor law. Charges included managers interrogating workers, demanding employees wear antiunion T-shirts, trying to coerce workers to spy on other workers, and threatening to close the plant if the workers voted for the union. The company fired 40 workers during the organizing drive, some of whom became staunch campaigners for the union.

Conditions on the job remain tough. The company recently cut back on water usage due to one of their waste ponds being full. This meant that warm water for washing cold hands was turned off in some departments.

Stanson was proud of what the workers had accomplished, even though the fight is not over. Looking over the rolling farmland, he stated confidently, "We succeeded in doing in this county what no one else has ever done." He also noted that a friend who works in a nearby factory asked him for some union cards.

Jeff Rogers is a member of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1996 in Atlanta.  
 
 
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