| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 14, 2000 |
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Union Drive Spreads to Second Omaha Meatpacking Plant When the 500 ConAgra workers in Omaha stood up for their rights on the job, meatpacking workers throughout the city took notice. Now, the 200 ConAgra Armour-Swift- Eckrich employees are making their voices heard for a union on the job by filing a petition for a union election. Workers filed the petition today with the National Labor Relations Board seeking an election to join the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 271. "In every non-union meatpacking plant in Omaha, workers are feeling the pain of repetitive motion injuries, the shame of second-class treatment by their supervisors and the frustration of low wages and inadequate family benefits. The Armour-Swift-Eckrich workers are announcing today that enough is enough. They want a voice on the job, just like the ConAgra workers around the corner," said Donna McDonald, President of UFCW Local 271. The UFCW, working closely with Omaha Together/One Community (OTOC) launched a campaign in June to organize and give a voice to all the non-union workers in Omaha. Today's petition follows the organizing drive at the ConAgra facility where the 500 workers will vote on Friday whether or not to have UFCW representation. The Armour-Swift-Eckrich plant was formerly the Cudahy Meat plant. Workers are mainly long-term employees who were inspired by other workers in the area to stand up for better working conditions and benefits by organizing a union. |
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