| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 28, 2000 |
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Community Challenges ConAgra to Respect Worker Rights Hundreds of clergy and community leaders rallied today in support of ConAgra workers' right to have a voice on the job. A majority of ConAgra workers have signed cards authorizing the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 271 to represent them. The union has requestion that ConAgra recognize the wokrers' union. ConAgra has refused. "Workers have voted by signing authorization cards in public. The UFCW is our union. ConAgra wants to delay and divide the workers, but we are standing together-- with the community on our side, we will get a voice on the job," said Julio Gonzalez, a ConAgra worker and leader of the UFCW organizing committee. Members of Omaha Together/One Community (OTOC) called on ConAgra to seize this opportunity to turn over a new leaf in Omaha by recognizing the workers' choice. The company action has delayed the process and will force workers into a divisive, lengthy and adversarial election process. OTOC joined with UFCW Local 271 at a press conference last week requesting that ConAgra recognize the workers' chosen union. There is no legal requirement for a formal, contested election as ConAgra has implied to its employees. Workers and their unions seek elections because the employer refuses to voluntarily recognize the workers' authorized bargaining agent. Community leaders, including Ken Maas, President of the Nebraska AFL-CIO, were joined by elected official and a host of area clergy speaking out in support of the workers' efforts. UFCW leaders from the Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota meatpacking industries stood to share their support and join in the call. "The workers have already made their choice. They are brave enough and strong enough to sign authorization cards. ConAgra should stop the delays, recognize the workers' choice and get right to the important business of bargaining a contract for these workers," said Donna McDonald, President of UFCW Local 271. Workers began organizing months ago and a majority of workers at ConAgra have signed UFCW authorization cards. The company has already set a standard of anti-worker behavior. The National Labor Relations Board has filed a complaint against ConAgra for violating federal law and interfering with workers' right to organize by videotaping employees' union activities, threatening employees with confiscation of literature and prohibiting employees from distributing union literature in the parking lot. ConAgra has filed legal maneuvers to delay the hearing on these charges until January, 2001. Rev. Mark Darby, co-chair of OTOC, set forth a charge to Omaha clergy and community members, "We are spreading the word with postcards addressed to ConAgra calling on the company to turn over a new leaf and respect workers' rights. Postcards and fliers will be distributed in congregations across the city. We are committed to take action until we have justice for these workers." In workplaces across the country, the UFCW frequently reaches labor agreements with companies through voluntary recognition or "card check," a process that is much less adversarial and stressful for workers than a prolonged election. ConAgra shareholders, meeting in Omaha tomorrow, will face the public pressure of the company's ill-willed tactics at the Omaha plant. The UFCW, with 1.4 million members, represents more than 25,000 ConAgra employees in 70 workplaces in the U.S. and Canada. |
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