Talks between negotiators for Local 9 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union and Quality Pork Processors Inc.

Monday, June 25, 2001

Talks between negotiators for Local 9 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union and Quality Pork Processors Inc. could resume as early as Monday.

John Morrison, business agent for Local 9, added the word "hopefully" to that statement Saturday.

"Discussions with QPP management are continuing and in all likelihood we’ll be back to the bargaining table early this week," Morrison said. "Hopefully as early as Monday."

Workers at Quality Pork Processors Inc. in Austin are working without a contract.

The old contract is being extended on a day-to-day basis.

The union’s old contract expired Wednesday, when bargaining broke off without a tentative agreement and the company’s issuance of a final offer following nearly two months of bargaining.

According to Morrison, the package was not recommended by the QPP Local 9 bargaining committee, which cited, in particular, an inadequate increase in wages for the 1,088 Local 9 members.

The company’s final offer was discussed with union workers at a well-attended meeting at the Austin Labor Center on Friday.

When a vote was taken, the Local 9 members voted to reject QPP’s offer by a 94 percent margin.

According to Morrison, the union notified QPP management late Friday of the results of the vote and requested to resume bargaining at the earliest convenience.

Negotiations began two months ago for a new pact to replace the 4-year old contract negotiated in 1997.

QPP is Austin’s second-largest employer.

It operates from leased facilities adjoining Hormel Foods Corp.’s flagship Austin plant.

Kelly Wadding, QPP’s president and chief executive officer, was not available for comment Saturday.

Also, Richard Koski, president of Local 9 of the UFCW, was unavailable for comment because of illness.

Call Lee Bonorden at 434-2232 or e-mail him at lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com.