August 10, 1985 - It?s a frustrating feeling, the whole town going through nervous breakdown, affects anyone who earns any money anywehere, people lose secureity and their futures, they?ve paid a constulant for a corporate campaign, if they had the union leadership they were entitled to this wouldn?t have happened. Austin has had labor peace for over 50 years, are people prepared for a strike? Hormel has a reputation for being fair with employees, people try to get into plant. The women intervied does not work for Hormel, is self-employed, she doesn?t like the the union has been doing, many people are afreaid to spead out, they?re afraid of the union. People are afraid of losing their jobs, people need business form Hormel exectuives and labor. Effect on Austin from a long strike will be tragic. It?s a long time before will be able to lure any kind of indtury into thie town.
August 12, 1985 - Union board presented Hormel final contract proposal to union members. Board tells membership to reject proposal because is worse than offered at other plants in Hormel chain, both wage and benefits. Guaranteed annual wage out the window. Company offer $10/hr rate instead of $11.25/hr rate. Ray Rogers clause would prohibit distribution of anti-company literature, was hired to help win back 23 percent wage and benefit cut. Will call for vote on Weds. Company has declared an impasse in negotiations, company free to implement proposal anytime. Union wants to pick time for strike, not have company dictate this.
August 14, 1985 - City is looking at the first strike in more than 50 years. Mayor Tom Keogh was quoted as saying, "economically town is in limbo, at a standstill. Stress on residents used to high wages, people don't have a lot of extra money, have to be optimistic that the strike will be settled."
August 15, 1985 - In Austin workers sign up for strike detail, closed informational meetings on Saturday. Car caravan to TC planned later in the week for infromational leafleting at First Bank offices.Jim Ueland of First Bank says campaign is misguided and has not had significant effect on company. 1984 was highest profit year in history, bank has been growing at 15-20 percent a year, is sound stable banking system, not disrupted by events outside. The bank?s voting on the Hormel stock it holds some 14 percent, is largely controlled by labor at the Austin plant, not management as Rogers claims.Management to shut plant down for 2 weeks before reopens, will shift operations to other plants. The company will hold out for as long as it takes. Nyberg: Since have been threatened with strike for many months have arranged for products to be produced at other locations. Fully intend to supply customers without interruption even though P-9 is on strike. Nyberg says contract proposal rejected is one of the best in the industry and will serve as basis for any future negotiations.
August 15, 1985 - Earlier in week P-9 board membership vote against Hormel final contract proposal. P-9 Union gives company 48 hours notice of intent to walk off job. Guyette: Talks about company?s motives. Talks about 1978 contract where union gave up a number of things in eight year contract.Informational meeting on Saturday to decide on strategies. Increased corporate campaign effort. Businesses in Austin are hurting. TV business owner talks about business being off. It?s affecting everybody.
September 2, 1985 - MPR’s Mark Heistad presents "The Strike is On!," an oral history of the early labor movement in Minnesota, with emphasis on the struggle to organize Iron Range workers, Austin’s Hormel strike, the Minneapolis truckers strike of 1934, and more.
September 17, 1985 - William Brock, U.S. labor secretary, speaking at the Elephant Club, as part of a fundraising luncheon for Minnesota's Independent-Republican party. Brock addressed the topic of his work at the labor department, labor management relations, the economy, and trade policy. After speech, Brock answered audience questions. Brock is known for his tenure as the United States' Special Trade Representative. He served as the nation's Chief Trade Advisor and International Trade Negotiator from 1981 until President Reagan asked him to move to the Labor Department last year. Brock was also chairman of the National Republican Party in the last 1970s and represented Tennessee for four terms as a congressman and one term as a U.S. Senator.
September 24, 1985 - MPR Journal host Gary Eichten presents a collection of reports and news items for Tuesday, September 24th, 1985.
October 7, 1985 - Charles Lutz, director of the Church in Society Office with the American Lutheran Church, speaking at forum on "The Implications of Consolidated Land Ownership" from the "Food, Farming and the Future" symposium, held at Concordia College in Moorhead. Lutz shares his views on the social concept of “land”, and against large farming operations.
October 7, 1985 - A post speech Q&A at forum on "The Implications of Consolidated Land Ownership" from the "Food, Farming and the Future" symposium, held at Concordia College in Moorhead. Keith Bjerke, president-elect of the Greater North Dakota Association and operator of a 3,000-acre farmstead in Northwood, North Dakota, had presented a pro large farm viewpoint; and Charles Lutz, Director of the Church in Society Office with the American Lutheran Church, had presented an anti large farm viewpoint. They both answered questions form the audience.