January 23, 1986 - Confirmation from Mower Co. Sheriff Wayne Goodnature that six arrests were made this morning at Hormel plant. 25 cars were stopped and locked and not running on east and west exit ramps. Mulcahey phoner.
January 23, 1986 - Hormel officials and striking workers will meet with factfinder. Mulcahy debrief with Doug ..... A bit more quiet than yesterday. Guard is still guarding the north gate where workers will be crossing picket line. Last night at union meeting members asked to be nonviolent, stay in cars and not congregate behind police lines. Perpich reputation among union, union may sue. Factfinder to look at mediator's final proposal.
January 20, 1986 - Mike Mulcahy talks about Perpich's decision. Paul Tschida, Public Safety Commissioner, talks about incidents and mounting tension, with some shots fired and several assaults. He says the Guard will not be armed and will not be guarding the Hormel plant.
January 8, 1986 -
September 24, 1985 - MPR Journal host Gary Eichten presents a collection of reports and news items for Tuesday, September 24th, 1985.
August 15, 1985 - Earlier in week P-9 board membership vote against Hormel final contract proposal. P-9 Union gives company 48 hours notice of intent to walk off job. Guyette: Talks about company?s motives. Talks about 1978 contract where union gave up a number of things in eight year contract.Informational meeting on Saturday to decide on strategies. Increased corporate campaign effort. Businesses in Austin are hurting. TV business owner talks about business being off. It?s affecting everybody.
August 15, 1985 - In Austin workers sign up for strike detail, closed informational meetings on Saturday. Car caravan to TC planned later in the week for infromational leafleting at First Bank offices.Jim Ueland of First Bank says campaign is misguided and has not had significant effect on company. 1984 was highest profit year in history, bank has been growing at 15-20 percent a year, is sound stable banking system, not disrupted by events outside. The bank?s voting on the Hormel stock it holds some 14 percent, is largely controlled by labor at the Austin plant, not management as Rogers claims.Management to shut plant down for 2 weeks before reopens, will shift operations to other plants. The company will hold out for as long as it takes. Nyberg: Since have been threatened with strike for many months have arranged for products to be produced at other locations. Fully intend to supply customers without interruption even though P-9 is on strike. Nyberg says contract proposal rejected is one of the best in the industry and will serve as basis for any future negotiations.
August 14, 1985 - City is looking at the first strike in more than 50 years. Mayor Tom Keogh was quoted as saying, "economically town is in limbo, at a standstill. Stress on residents used to high wages, people don't have a lot of extra money, have to be optimistic that the strike will be settled."
August 12, 1985 - Union board presented Hormel final contract proposal to union members. Board tells membership to reject proposal because is worse than offered at other plants in Hormel chain, both wage and benefits. Guaranteed annual wage out the window. Company offer $10/hr rate instead of $11.25/hr rate. Ray Rogers clause would prohibit distribution of anti-company literature, was hired to help win back 23 percent wage and benefit cut. Will call for vote on Weds. Company has declared an impasse in negotiations, company free to implement proposal anytime. Union wants to pick time for strike, not have company dictate this.
August 10, 1985 - It?s a frustrating feeling, the whole town going through nervous breakdown, affects anyone who earns any money anywehere, people lose secureity and their futures, they?ve paid a constulant for a corporate campaign, if they had the union leadership they were entitled to this wouldn?t have happened. Austin has had labor peace for over 50 years, are people prepared for a strike? Hormel has a reputation for being fair with employees, people try to get into plant. The women intervied does not work for Hormel, is self-employed, she doesn?t like the the union has been doing, many people are afreaid to spead out, they?re afraid of the union. People are afraid of losing their jobs, people need business form Hormel exectuives and labor. Effect on Austin from a long strike will be tragic. It?s a long time before will be able to lure any kind of indtury into thie town.