Local 538 president Mike Rice, who chaired the event, called off the list of company concession proposals: “Are you willing to accept $2 an hour cut in pay for new hires? Are you willing to accept a 4-year wage freeze? Are you willing to accept elimination of pension for new hires?” He received a resounding’ “NO!” to each one.

Chief steward Ron Peich told the gathering that his attitude was expressed by a sign displayed by UFCW Local 271 from Omaha, Nebraska, that said, “Your victory will be our victory.” He thanked everyone for the donations that fill the food pantry.

The union has called several rallies in Jefferson since the meat packers’ walked out on February 28. They are standing up to the company’s demands to cut hourly rates for new hires from $11.09 to $9 and freeze pay for others over a four-year period; eliminate pensions for new hires and freeze benefits for the rest; increase health-care premiums by as much as $40 a week and eliminate health-care supplements for retirees; cut sick leave and disability benefits by more than half; reduce vacations; eliminate two paid holidays for new hires; and end the profit-sharing program.

The strikers have organized regular cookouts on the picket line, on-the-road Truth Squads that visit other UFCW-organized meatpacking plants to spread the facts on the strike and seek solidarity, and other activities to win support for their fight.

Sharing experiences in this struggle against the world’s largest meat processor with visitors to the picket line from as far away as St. Louis, Missouri, has been an eye-opener, said Jim Weissman, a member of Local 538’s bargaining committee.

Mike Rice pointed to the example of this solidarity provided by the Omaha delegation, who “worked their full week of work then drove 12 hours to get here.” He introduced them to participants as “our friends who have come to every rally since the beginning, from a local union recently founded in Omaha, Nebraska.” The delegation of 11 workers thanked the strikers in Spanish and English for opening up their homes to them and pledged to support the fight until it is won.

Chicago supporters of the strike at the rally included two members of UFCW Local 1546, and Henry Miller, a member of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees (HERE) Local 1 on strike against the Congress Plaza Hotel. The two struggles had similarities, said Miller. “They cut our wages, and they want to cut out health benefits, cut out retirement,” he said. “We are fighting for the same thing—justice!”

Speakers from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, and the Rock County Board of Supervisors reported their activities passing resolutions in favor of the Tyson product boycott, and raising school supplies for the strikers’ families as well as funds to support the strike.

Rice noted that donations have come from the Mid Atlantic region of the UFCW, Midwest Joint Board of UNITE, Wisconsin state teachers union (WEAC), United Steelworkers of America, International Association of Machinists, and United Auto Workers.

“Get ready to do a lot of traveling,” said Mark Lauritsen, UFCW vice president and director of Region 2. “The only way to win is to take this strike on the road—to the East Coast, the West Coast, and overseas.” He reported the decision by the union’s recent national convention in San Francisco to expand the adopt-a-family program so that no striker’s family will go wanting.

Representatives of the South Central Wisconsin Federation of Labor, the Milwaukee County Labor Council, and the Rock County Board of Supervisors invited participants at the Jefferson rally to join in the Labor Day parades in their areas, where the Tyson strikers will be featured along with other struggles. UFCW international representative Mike Barkley said the strikers will be joining such parades throughout Wisconsin and possibly other states.

After the rally, several strikers talked about recent experiences in reaching out to build solidarity. “Twelve of us went to Rice Lake, Wisconsin, one week ago to join the picket line against Shadow Plastics,” said Dave Reed. “The 20 people who work at that plant went on strike for three weeks after going without a contract for 18 months. After the union had negotiated a two-year contract the owner said it was only good for six months. His demands included pension cuts and reduced vacations.”

Kurt Kernan, a member of the local’s hardship committee, had attended the union convention. “We went to the convention to get the word out about our strike,” he said. “I met people from Oregon to New York to Kentucky. I also met UFCW members from Canada who had been on strike for 16 months against Safeway Foods.”

“We’re going to be getting out again with Truth Squads and other activities,” said Local 538 member Keith Griep. “I plan to participate in the [Labor Day] parade in Milwaukee.”

Pattie Thompson is a member of UNITE Local 39C and Maurice Wilson is a meat packer in Chicago.  
 
 
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