The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union has announced workers across four states have voted to ratify a historic contract with Hormel Foods.

UFCW, which represents 1.3 million essential workers in grocery, meatpacking, retail and other essential industries across North America, released the following statement announcing the ratification of UFCW’s new historic contract with Hormel Foods. 

“Our members who work at Hormel Foods locations in Minnesota, Georgia, Wisconsin and Iowa voted today to ratify a contract that includes the largest wage increase in the company's history. In addition to gaining hourly wage increases of $3-$6 an hour, the new contract nearly doubles bereavement leave, protects healthcare coverage, and increases both pension and 401k benefits," said UFCW International President Marc Perrone.

"This critical victory could not have happened without the hard work and solidarity of our members across four Local Unions. Today proves that when workers stand together and make their voices heard, they win. While we celebrate this historic and much-deserved victory, the work will continue. We will dedicate ourselves to enforcing this contract and ensuring that Hormel lives up to their commitments over the next four years.” 

UFCW Locals 663 (Austin, Minnesota), 1996 (Atlanta, Georgia), 1473 (Beloit, Wisconsin),  and 1155 (Algona, Iowa) bargained together as a supply chain bargaining with Hormel. Each location has a Hormel plant. Austin is the largest plant with over 1,700 employees. 

The UFCW Locals members voted in September to reject Hormel’s final offer, stating "They refuse to give us good wages and secure pensions after record company profits. We, the bargaining committee, unanimously recommend a 'NO' vote next week. We believe we can win more if we stick together." Bargaining resumed last week.