| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 22, 2001 |
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Packinghouse Workers Nationwide Rally To Support Strikers at Rochelle Foods The 900 striking workers at Rochelle Foods in Rochelle, Illinois got a big boost as representatives of 26 local unions of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) pledged financial support at a national meeting held yesterday in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Bill Schmitz, UFCW International Vice President and Packinghouse Director, said, "We are sending a strong message to our brothers and sisters on the picket line. You are not alone. From across the country, all packinghouse workers are with you. And we are sending a message to the company. UFCW locals in the packinghouse industry are united and committed to providing the finances to win the strike at Rochelle." Workers were forced on strike after a company demand that workers accept a real wage cut over the term of a proposed four year contract. The company's demands would have left workers with about 2 percent less family purchasing power than they have now. Current wages at Rochelle Foods are already about one to two dollars an hour less than at other pork processing facilities. "Rochelle is trying to drag down wages for the entire industry. Sales and profits are soaring for pork processors. Living standards for workers should rise along with sales and profits. Rochelle Foods wants a u-turn on wages with smaller paychecks for workers while pocketing more and more of the profits that workers produce," said Schmitz. Leaders of the 26 UFCW local unions will call emergency meetings of their local executive boards to appropriate funds to support the strikers. Money should begin arriving almost immediately. The UFCW Region 6 Council yesterday committed $25,000 to support the strike. The following UFCW local unions pledged their support: 431, Davenport, Iowa; 1996, Georgia; 1161, Worthington, Minnesota; 1991, Mississippi; 100, Chicago, Illinois; 990, Greeley, Colorado; 22, Fremont, Nebraska; 222, Dakota City, Nebraska; 540, Texas; 217, Omaha, Nebraska; 227, Kentucky; 440, Denison, Iowa; 2, Kansas City, Kansas; 6, Minnesota; 9, Austin, Minnesota; 73A, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; 911, Toledo, Ohio; 204, North Carolina; 876, Detroit, Michigan; 150, Dubuque, Iowa; 700, Indiana; 179, Iowa; 1439, Spokane, Washington; 230, Ottuma, Iowa; 1149, Perry, Iowa; 1540, Chicago, Illinois. United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW): A Voice for Working America-www.ufcw.org |
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