Hormel Workers Voting on New Contract Today

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Austin, MN (KROC-AM News) - Union workers at Hormel Foods in Austin and several other locations are holding a contract ratification vote today.

The tentative agreement, which was reached last week after the Austin-based food company and the United Food and Commercial Workers union resumed negotiations, covers about 1700 Hormel employees in Austin. Local 663 of the UFCW is recommending approval of the agreement.

That was not the case just a few weeks ago when the union urged its members to reject what was then termed Hormel's final contract offer. The union workers followed that recommendation and voted down the Hormel offer by an overwhelming majority, which raised fears of a possible strike in Austin and other communities that host Hormel plants.

Union officials have not disclosed the terms of the new tentative contract agreement, saying the information needed to be shared with the workers first. The results of today's ratification vote could be announced late tonight or early tomorrow.