A protest was held Thursday outside the Knoxville Hormel plant regarding ongoing union contract negotiations.

Members of the UFCW 431 Union have been working under an extension which expires on April 5th. The union members recently voted down the company’s new contract offer 107-0. The employees at the Knoxville plant are requesting the same pay as their counterparts that work at other plants across the United States according to Mark McRoberts who is the UFCW 431 Union Representative in Knoxville. McRoberts gave KNIA/KRLS radio an update on the negotiations.

“Starting next Tuesday, the negotiators will go back to the table to negotiate with the company representatives. If an agreement can be reached it will again be voted on by the employees of Hormel Knoxville, if not there would be a vote to strike.”

Hormel Corporation provided KNIA/KRLS radio with a statement regarding negotiations in Knoxville.

“Hormel Foods is currently in talks with UFCW representatives for the union team members at our Knoxville production facility. Negotiations are a longstanding part of collective bargaining and we have the highest of confidence that we will reach an agreement that continues our tradition of being a world-class employer. As always, our representatives are negotiating in good faith and are working closely with union representatives toward a new collective bargaining agreement that continues our leading total rewards program, including competitive wages and benefits. We are confident that we will come to a win-win-win agreement on the issues that are important to union leadership, our team members and to Hormel Foods, and our customers.”

Stay tuned to KNIA/KRLS radio for updates on contract negotiations as they become available.