Rachleff, Peter J.

Local P-9, headquartered in Austin, Minnesota, was the bargaining agent for the workers at the George A. Hormel & Company meat packing plant in Austin. It was constituted in 1933, and was originally affiliated with the Independent Union of All Workers. After a 1979 merger between the Retail Clerks International Union and the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America, Local P-9 became affiliated with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW). James Guyette became president of Local P-9 in January 1984.

George A. Hormel & Company, a multinational food and consumer products company, was established in 1891 in Austin, Minnesota. Its principal products are meat and food products, including fresh and frozen meats, sausages, hams, wieners, bacon, Spam and other canned luncheon meats, microwavable entres, stews, hash, chilies, and meat spreads. In 1991 the name of the company was changed to Hormel Foods Corporation.

Local P-9 struck the company on August 17, 1985 over wage and benefit concessions and other issues. Local P-9 hired Corporate Campaign, Inc. to assist it in the strike. The strike dragged on with no resolution, and the company eventually hired permanent replacements for striking workers. In March 1986 the UFCW ordered Local P-9 to end its strike, boycott, and related activities against Hormel. P-9 refused to do so. On May 7, 1986 the UFCW imposed a trusteeship on Local P-9 and appointed Joseph T. Hansen as trustee, removing Guyette and the other officers. A tentative agreement was reached with Hormel by September 1986.

From the guide to the Papers relating to Hormel strike support groups., 1975-1993., (Minnesota Historical Society)