European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 29, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 16 the stars and stripes sunday september 29, 1985 by Jef Baenen associated press a Oitto r month Long strike by  of  goo a Hormel co 5 flagship Plant to Austin. Min has grown into n contest of wills and neither Side shows signs of re noting there comes n time when injustice and dignity in the wort place Nave to be addressed and you can t Back up anymore said Jim Guyette the tall Broad shouldered president of local p-9 of the food and commercial workers Union. The local1 s 1.500 members walked off their jobs on aug. 17 in the first strike at the Austin Plant in 52 years standing on the other Side of the picket line is Richard l Knowlton. Hormel s chief executive who says the company already pays $1 to $2 an hour More than the average wage in the meatpacking Industry and can pay no More. When they Austin workers see what s happening in the rest of the Industry they la see what i told them two years ago is True they be got the Best contract in the  Knowlton said. We re prepared to go with the strike As Long As we need to  he added. Despite their differences Guyette 36. And Knowlton. 53. Have similar backgrounds. Both grew up in Austin a Southern Minnesota town of 23.000 where Hormel was founded in 1891. Both their fathers worked for Hormel for 32 years. Guyette began working for Hormel in 1968. Knowlton worked Summers at the Plant in 1948 and was a Union member. He became Genera manager of the Austin Plant in 1969 and eventually was named Hormel s president chairman of the Board and chief executive other. Guyette. Elected to a three year term As p-9 president in january 1984, says management has gotten too tar away from the  hotel treated its employees the Best in the meatpacking Industry he said. Now he said they seem to be going after the almighty Dollar and it does t matter who gets Hurt along the  Guyette said he Learned about compassion from his Grandfather. Jack sr., who was a Foreman at the old Hormel Plant. He had a lot to do with How i feel about people Guyette said. He brought me up in a Christian environment. When i read the Bible it says greed consumes people. And i think greed has totally consumed the management of this  Knowlton Calls the Union s allegations of poor working conditions and a High injury rate at the 3-year old Plant a Bunch of  it was a Good company always has been. I choose to believe it still  he said. Guyette was elected on a platform of no concessions to Hormel. A giant in the meatpacking Industry with $1.4 billion in sales last fiscal year. That Promise was tested last october when Hormel. Saying Union membership in percent of . Civilian labor Force latest figure available Chicago Tribune graphic by Kevin Boyd. Scored Union sour Obook by Leo Troy and nil Knofl n at Rul Gors u it had to remain competitive slashed wages by 23 percent. Union local1 at other Hormel plants agreed to the move which Tom Rod the base wage from $10.69 to $8.25 an hour but p-9 ind res refused to go along contending that Home l maker of spam luncheon meat. Black Label Bacon and cure 81 Ham was profitable and could afford to pay More than other meat companies last month. P-9 members rejected a company offer of $10 an hour the same wage paid to Union workers at nine other Hormel plants and wont on strike for the first time since 1933 Hormel temporarily closed the $100 million Plant but plans to reopen it. Using supervisors temporary workers or permanent replacements Knowlton said Hormel s offer is better than the Industry average of $8 to 59 an hour. P-9 leaders sought $ 11 25 an hour for Austin workers Many of whom were making $9 25 an hour when they went on strike. The Long simmering dispute has prompted Hormel s Board of directors to consider moving the corporate Headquarters from Austin where Hormel provides one out of Lour paychecks despite warnings from their Parent Union that the local was on a suicide  p-9 leaders hired new York labor consultant Ray Rogers and his corporate Campaign to try to pressure Hormel into restoring the lost wages in the Hormel dispute Rogers Campaign has focused on first Bank system inc. A Minneapolis based Bank holding company. Local p-9 contends first Bank is a major Hormel stockholder and can influence the company claims that Are disputed by both first Bank and Hormel. The National labor relations Board in Minneapolis has ruled that local p-9 s Campaign against first Bank constituted an illegal secondary Boycott. A Federal judge last week granted the Norb s request for a temporary injunction to prohibit the strikers from  first Bank branches in Minnesota. It s an attempt to involve an innocent third part in a dispute Between n company and a Union " Chuck Nyberg Hormel senior  president general counsel and Secretary said of corporate Campaign s Effort Nyberg 55. Grew up hening. A Small town in " Northwestern Minnesota and joined Hormel after " " University of Minnesota Law school neither tide Trowt lignin of relenting in a bitter strike by Union meat Altert Agai nil Geo. A. Hormel & co 0 i think people tend to choose sides in situations like his and rela Nons Are strained Between friends an families Nyberg said. And per Abha Rowe vhf he s Fike has Remai de peaceful and p-9 leaders have vowed to keep it so T7hh Dap � winnin9 a strike Wilh a base a Bat Oran a handle Are behind us Guyette said