United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. Local 431 (Ottumwa, Iowa)

Hormel opened a hog slaughter and processing plant employing 563 people in Ottumwa in October 1976. Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America Local 431 from Dubuque organized the plant. In 1979 the AMCBW became part of the new United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. By March 1985 the plant employed nearly 1000 workers. In January 1986 roving pickets from Austin Local P-9 picketed the plant and 500 Ottumwa workers refused to cross the picket line. Hormel then fired 478 workers. Hormel announced that it would suspend the hog cut and kill departments in February 1986 and close them in December 1986. In February 1987 Hormel announced the plant would close or be sold by August 1987. Local 431 negotiated with Hormel to keep the plant open, but could not reach an agreement before the Excel Company, a subsidiary of Cargill Corporation bought the plant in August 1987.