| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 18, 2000 |
Contact: Donna McDonald at UFCW Local 271 at (402)342-5417 or Jill Cashen at (202) 728-4797. |
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Omaha Meatpacking Workers Vote for a Voice on the Job This has been a big year for meatpacking workers in Omaha. First, the ConAgra maintenance workers organized a union. Now, the 200 Armour-Swift-Eckrich employees have made their voices heard for a union on the job by voting "Union Yes" in an election last Friday. Workers voted overwhelmingly in favor of representation by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 271. The mostly long-term employees stood up for better working conditions, better benefits and respect. "The Armour-Swift-Eckrich workers should feel so proud of themselves for standing up and winning. With their leadership, now we can move on to the rest of the non-union plants here in Omaha," said Donna McDonald, President of UFCW Local 271. Kathy Boldun, an 18-year veteran employee and leader of the organizing efforts said, "We were tired of the company taking from us and not giving anything back. Organizing a union and voting yes was the only option we had to protect our rights and get a voice on the job." The latest organizing win was due in large part to the tremendous support from the community and the hard work by members of Omaha Together/One Community (OTOC). "OTOC members were out at the plant early in the morning and late at night, talking with workers and letting them know the community is on their side. This victory is proof positive that community involvement in workplace issues can make Omaha a better place to live, for all of us," continued McDonald. More than 4,000 workers in Omaha's meatpacking industry do not have union representation, yet. The UFCW, working closely with OTOC, launched a campaign in June to organize and give a voice to all the non-union workers in Omaha.
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