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Era
Hormel Strike, 1985–1986
On August 17, 1985, about 1,500 Hormel Foods Corporation workers went on strike at the meat-processing plant at the company’s headquarters in Austin, Minnesota. The strikers, members of United Food and Commercial Workers’ Local P-9, cited a wage freeze, dangerous working conditions, and a wage cut as the reasons for the strike, which continued for thirteen months. New non-union workers were hired and the National Guard was called to protect them, drawing global attention. The conflict is heralded as one of the most contentious and longest-running strikes in Minnesota history.
In the mid-1980s, a national recession deeply impacted the economy and, subsequently, the workforce. Companies commonly froze and cut wages, which hit economically disadvantaged communities, like Austin, especially hard. Prior to the strike at Hormel, workers in the hog-slaughtering plant were distraught over a wage and benefit freeze and dangerous working conditions. When Hormel management imposed a 23 percent wage cut, P-9 members voted to strike. However, the strike was not supported by the parent union, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), leading to deep resentment and turmoil among P-9ers and the community of Austin.
Hormel management was left with no immediate option but to close the plant temporarily. Meanwhile, both sides of the picket line strategized to hold their position. When Hormel offered 300 eligible employees retirement benefits if they stopped striking, thirty of them accepted the offer. Additional proposals from Hormel to resolve the strike were shot down by P-9ers. Striking employees staged protest activities like a roving picket line and rallies. P-9ers also mobilized Hormel retirees and community members to attend rallies and show their support. As the strike picked up momentum it gained national attention, leading to a widely publicized boycott of Hormel products.
In January 1986, Hormel reopened the plant and asked the striking P-9 members to return to work while also accepting applications from non-union workers. Around 500 union members returned to Hormel, causing a divisive split in the Austin community. Additionally, about 540 non-union employees—most of them Mexican migrant workers—were hired to bring the plant back to full production. Even though the strike was peaceful at this point, Minnesota Governor Rudy Perpich sent in the National Guard to protect non-union workers.
As the strike dragged on, tension continued to mount between strikers and Hormel management. Protesters organized a massive blockade of several hundred cars to keep workers from getting into the plant. Hormel management retaliated by firing many of the strikers. Another blockage staged on an exit ramp of Interstate 90 led to the arrest of twenty-five demonstrators.
Despite the ongoing protests and growing animosity, the National Guard was dismissed because it was determined that the local law enforcement could handle the protesters. Shortly after, violent clashes at demonstrations led to more strikers’ arrests. On April 10, 1986, a riot broke out outside the plant. Police used tear gas on strikers and nine police officers were injured during the riot. More protesters were arrested, including some from out of town.
Soon after the riot the Reverend Jesse Jackson arrived to mediate between Hormel and the P-9 strikers. When the strikers met him at Austin Municipal Airport and welcomed him to Minnesota, he delivered an impromptu sermon. Later he met with jailed protesters, leading them in a chorus of the gospel-turned-protest anthem “We Shall Overcome.” Jackson mediated with both sides but was unable to help them reach a resolution.
Throughout the strike, the UFCW sided with Hormel management, eventually leading them to order Local P-9 to end the strike in June. When Local P-9 refused, the UFCW suspended P-9 officers, forcing the local union into receivership as it was taken over by the parent union. The action essentially ended the strike, although it did not officially end for several more months.
By fall, union workers ratified a new contract with Hormel, but only about 20 percent of striking employees got their jobs back. While the strike was unsuccessful for P-9, it succeeded in raising awareness of the plight of factory workers and effecting positive change in unions across the United States. Parent unions viewed the Hormel strike as a cautionary tale for the entire labor movement, evident by parent unions showing greater support to union members during negotiations with employers, resulting in fewer large-scale strikes.

Bibliography
“25th Anniversary of the Hormel Strike.” Austin Daily Herald, August 17, 2010.
https://www.austindailyherald.com/2010/08/25th-anniversary-of-the-hormel-strike
“30 Years Since Beginning of Hormel Strike.” Post Bulletin, August 17, 2015
https://www.postbulletin.com/news/local/years-since-beginning-of-hormel-strike/article_31cc1eee-a017-5e9c-a8a3-be3e29d6b27a.html
Baier, Elizabeth. “25 Years Ago, Hormel Strike Changed Austin, Industry. Minnesota Public Radio News, August 17, 2010.
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2010/08/17/austin-hormel-strike
Boyce, Steve, Jake Edwards, and Tom Wetzel. “Slaughterhouse Fight: A Look at the Hormel Strike.” Ideas & Action 7 (Summer 1986).
https://www.iww.org/about/how-iww-differs-business-unions/TWetzel1
Drewelow, Rachel. “P-9 Proud, 25 Years Later.” Austin Daily Herald, August 14, 2010.
https://www.austindailyherald.com/2010/08/p-9-proud-25-years-later
Fahey, Micahel T. Packing It In!: The Hormel Strike, 1985-86: A Personal Perspective. St. Paul: Kirwin & Sons Publishing, 1988.
Green, Hardy. On Strike at Hormel: The Struggle for A Democratic Labor Movement. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1990.
Hage, Dave. No Retreat, No Surrender: Labor’s War at Hormel.
New York: W. Morrow, 1989.
“Historic Photos: Hormel Strike in Austin (1985–86).” Post Bulletin, May 5, 2016.
https://www.postbulletin.com/gallery/historic-photos-hormel-strike-in-austin/collection_ece99ca6-0017-11e6-8ffb-6b9da12844fc.html
“Hormel Strike Aug. 1985—June 1986: The Two-front Labor War in Austin.” Star Tribune,
July 11, 2015.
http://www.startribune.com/hormel-strike-aug-1985-june-1986the-two-front-labor-war-in-austin/313924351/
Kopple, Barbara, dir. American Dream. 1990; Santa Monica, CA: Lionsgate, 2013. DVD.
Mewes, Trey. “Former P-9’er Calls for Worker Equality at Hormel Shareholders Meeting.” Austin Daily Herald, January 29, 2014.
https://m.austindailyherald.com/2014/01/former-p-9er-calls-for-worker-equality-at-hormel-shareholders-meeting
“A Piece of Austin’s History.” Austin Daily Herald, August 15, 2010.
https://m.austindailyherald.com/2010/08/sunday-section-to-touch-on-hormel-strike-history
“Play on Hormel Strike to Premiere at Children’s Theatre Company.” Austin Daily Herald, February 23, 2019
https://www.austindailyherald.com/2019/02/play-on-hormel-strike-to-premiere-at-childrens-theatre-company
Rachleff, Peter J. Hard-pressed in the Heartland: The Hormel Strike and the Future of the Labor Movement. Boston: Sound End Press, 1993.
Rose, Mike. “‘American Dream’ Still Rings True Today.” Austin Daily Herald, August 14, 2010.
https://www.austindailyherald.com/2010/08/%E2%80%98american-dream%E2%80%99-still-rings-true-today
Schleuning, Neala. Women, Community, and the Hormel Strike of 1985-86. Westport: Greenwood Press, 1994.
“A Timeline of the Hormel Strike.” Austin Daily Herald, August 14, 2010.
https://m.austindailyherald.com/2010/08/a-timeline-of-the-hormel-strike
Related Resources
Primary
Bill Brust papers, 1937–1993
Manuscripts Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
Description: Brust's papers document his life and career as a Minnesota Trotskyite and modern language scholar. His "Political Activities and Writings" include a series of memoranda and other papers related to his arrest during the Local P-9 strike at the Hormel meat packing plant in Austin (1986).
http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/P2143.xml
Audiotape no. 27
Boycott Hormel: Live from Austin
Audio Visual Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
Description: This fifty-two-minute cassette contains songs relating to the 1985 Hormel strike and comments by striking workers, plus a list of Hormel products to boycott on the container. Produced by Larry Long and Carrie Gerendasy.
Hormel Strike papers, 1985–86
Manuscripts Collection, Mower County Historical Society, Austin
Description: Police reports, correspondence with federal officials, and newspaper clippings.
Commissioner’s Office subject files, 1967–2007
Minnesota Department of Public Safety
State Archives, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
Description: The subject files include documents related to the Austin Police Department, Governor Rudy Perpich, and the Commissioner of Public Safety discussing the use of the National Guard at the Hormel plant as well as a folder of newspaper clippings relating to the strike.
http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/gr00055.xml
Papers relating to Hormel strike support groups, 1975–1993
Manuscripts Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
Description: Includes background materials, correspondence and related papers, legal files, newsletters, newspaper clippings, magazine articles, printed materials, flyers, a few snapshot photographs, and the script of a play. The materials were gathered by Peter J. Rachleff and David J. Riehle, active supporters of the strike. The papers also contain extensive minutes and related papers document the activities of the main support group, the Metro Area Hormel Workers Support Committee; newspaper clippings; newsletters; and ephemera related to other support groups. There is a large file of newspaper and magazine articles taken largely from left-wing publications.
http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/00056.xml
HD5306- HD5481
Pamphlets relating to labor disputes in Minnesota, 1891–
Pamphlets Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
Description: Contains pamphlets and printed ephemera relating to labor disputes, strikes and lockouts, secondary boycotts, arbitration and related issues.
Kenneth E. Tilsen papers, 1964–ca. 2010
Manuscripts Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
Description: This collection consists of legal files for selected cases documenting Tilsen's career as an attorney in St. Paul, including the legal aftermath of the 1985-1986 Hormel meatpackers strike (Hansen v. Guyette and the Austin Labor Center case). Tilsen's cases concern a dispute between the Local P-9 and Joseph Hansen, the trustee appointed for the Local P-9 by the International in May 1986. Much of the dispute focused on control of the Local P-9's headquarters, the Austin Labor Center. Tilsen represented the Austin Labor Center, Inc., and the Local P-9 members in these cases, which were eventually dismissed or settled. Files consist primarily of a chronological series of pleadings, affidavits, orders, and other court documents. In addition the series includes correspondence, interrogatories, and research files. The correspondence files include color snapshots of the Austin Labor Center mural, which was destroyed by vandals during the legal dispute.
http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/00470.xml
HD8039.P15 H67 1985
United Packinghouse Workers of America Oral History Project interviews, 1985–86
Oral History Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
Description: Interviews with Hormel and other workers in Austin, Cudahy, Swift, Armour, and South St. Paul, Minnesota.
Secondary
Videotape 145
We're Not Gonna Take It
Audiovisual Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
Description: Documentary film directed by Pamela Yates about the strike against the Geo. A. Hormel Co. in Austin by the United Food and Commercial Workers Local P-9 in 1985–1986. Videocassette, ca. 1986.
Related Audio
MN90: Hormel Meat Packers' Strike of 1985
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Striking Hormel workers on April 10, 1986
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Turning Point
On January 20, 1986, Minnesota Governor Rudy Perpich calls in the National Guard to protect Hormel non-union workers from striking union employees.
Chronology
August 7, 1985
August `5, 1985
August 17, 1986
September 4, 1985
November 25, 1985
December 20, 1985
January 13, 1986
February 21, 1986
March 9, 1986
March 10, 1986
March 14, 1986
April 10, 1986
April 12, 1986
May 18, 1986
July 3, 1986
August 27, 1986
September 13, 1986
Bibliography
“25th Anniversary of the Hormel Strike.” Austin Daily Herald, August 17, 2010.
https://www.austindailyherald.com/2010/08/25th-anniversary-of-the-hormel-strike
“30 Years Since Beginning of Hormel Strike.” Post Bulletin, August 17, 2015
https://www.postbulletin.com/news/local/years-since-beginning-of-hormel-strike/article_31cc1eee-a017-5e9c-a8a3-be3e29d6b27a.html
Baier, Elizabeth. “25 Years Ago, Hormel Strike Changed Austin, Industry. Minnesota Public Radio News, August 17, 2010.
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2010/08/17/austin-hormel-strike
Boyce, Steve, Jake Edwards, and Tom Wetzel. “Slaughterhouse Fight: A Look at the Hormel Strike.” Ideas & Action 7 (Summer 1986).
https://www.iww.org/about/how-iww-differs-business-unions/TWetzel1
Drewelow, Rachel. “P-9 Proud, 25 Years Later.” Austin Daily Herald, August 14, 2010.
https://www.austindailyherald.com/2010/08/p-9-proud-25-years-later
Fahey, Micahel T. Packing It In!: The Hormel Strike, 1985-86: A Personal Perspective. St. Paul: Kirwin & Sons Publishing, 1988.
Green, Hardy. On Strike at Hormel: The Struggle for A Democratic Labor Movement. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1990.
Hage, Dave. No Retreat, No Surrender: Labor’s War at Hormel.
New York: W. Morrow, 1989.
“Historic Photos: Hormel Strike in Austin (1985–86).” Post Bulletin, May 5, 2016.
https://www.postbulletin.com/gallery/historic-photos-hormel-strike-in-austin/collection_ece99ca6-0017-11e6-8ffb-6b9da12844fc.html
“Hormel Strike Aug. 1985—June 1986: The Two-front Labor War in Austin.” Star Tribune,
July 11, 2015.
http://www.startribune.com/hormel-strike-aug-1985-june-1986the-two-front-labor-war-in-austin/313924351/
Kopple, Barbara, dir. American Dream. 1990; Santa Monica, CA: Lionsgate, 2013. DVD.
Mewes, Trey. “Former P-9’er Calls for Worker Equality at Hormel Shareholders Meeting.” Austin Daily Herald, January 29, 2014.
https://m.austindailyherald.com/2014/01/former-p-9er-calls-for-worker-equality-at-hormel-shareholders-meeting
“A Piece of Austin’s History.” Austin Daily Herald, August 15, 2010.
https://m.austindailyherald.com/2010/08/sunday-section-to-touch-on-hormel-strike-history
“Play on Hormel Strike to Premiere at Children’s Theatre Company.” Austin Daily Herald, February 23, 2019
https://www.austindailyherald.com/2019/02/play-on-hormel-strike-to-premiere-at-childrens-theatre-company
Rachleff, Peter J. Hard-pressed in the Heartland: The Hormel Strike and the Future of the Labor Movement. Boston: Sound End Press, 1993.
Rose, Mike. “‘American Dream’ Still Rings True Today.” Austin Daily Herald, August 14, 2010.
https://www.austindailyherald.com/2010/08/%E2%80%98american-dream%E2%80%99-still-rings-true-today
Schleuning, Neala. Women, Community, and the Hormel Strike of 1985-86. Westport: Greenwood Press, 1994.
“A Timeline of the Hormel Strike.” Austin Daily Herald, August 14, 2010.
https://m.austindailyherald.com/2010/08/a-timeline-of-the-hormel-strike
Related Resources
Primary
Bill Brust papers, 1937–1993
Manuscripts Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
Description: Brust's papers document his life and career as a Minnesota Trotskyite and modern language scholar. His "Political Activities and Writings" include a series of memoranda and other papers related to his arrest during the Local P-9 strike at the Hormel meat packing plant in Austin (1986).
http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/P2143.xml
Audiotape no. 27
Boycott Hormel: Live from Austin
Audio Visual Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
Description: This fifty-two-minute cassette contains songs relating to the 1985 Hormel strike and comments by striking workers, plus a list of Hormel products to boycott on the container. Produced by Larry Long and Carrie Gerendasy.
Hormel Strike papers, 1985–86
Manuscripts Collection, Mower County Historical Society, Austin
Description: Police reports, correspondence with federal officials, and newspaper clippings.
Commissioner’s Office subject files, 1967–2007
Minnesota Department of Public Safety
State Archives, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
Description: The subject files include documents related to the Austin Police Department, Governor Rudy Perpich, and the Commissioner of Public Safety discussing the use of the National Guard at the Hormel plant as well as a folder of newspaper clippings relating to the strike.
http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/gr00055.xml
Papers relating to Hormel strike support groups, 1975–1993
Manuscripts Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
Description: Includes background materials, correspondence and related papers, legal files, newsletters, newspaper clippings, magazine articles, printed materials, flyers, a few snapshot photographs, and the script of a play. The materials were gathered by Peter J. Rachleff and David J. Riehle, active supporters of the strike. The papers also contain extensive minutes and related papers document the activities of the main support group, the Metro Area Hormel Workers Support Committee; newspaper clippings; newsletters; and ephemera related to other support groups. There is a large file of newspaper and magazine articles taken largely from left-wing publications.
http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/00056.xml
HD5306- HD5481
Pamphlets relating to labor disputes in Minnesota, 1891–
Pamphlets Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
Description: Contains pamphlets and printed ephemera relating to labor disputes, strikes and lockouts, secondary boycotts, arbitration and related issues.
Kenneth E. Tilsen papers, 1964–ca. 2010
Manuscripts Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
Description: This collection consists of legal files for selected cases documenting Tilsen's career as an attorney in St. Paul, including the legal aftermath of the 1985-1986 Hormel meatpackers strike (Hansen v. Guyette and the Austin Labor Center case). Tilsen's cases concern a dispute between the Local P-9 and Joseph Hansen, the trustee appointed for the Local P-9 by the International in May 1986. Much of the dispute focused on control of the Local P-9's headquarters, the Austin Labor Center. Tilsen represented the Austin Labor Center, Inc., and the Local P-9 members in these cases, which were eventually dismissed or settled. Files consist primarily of a chronological series of pleadings, affidavits, orders, and other court documents. In addition the series includes correspondence, interrogatories, and research files. The correspondence files include color snapshots of the Austin Labor Center mural, which was destroyed by vandals during the legal dispute.
http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/00470.xml
HD8039.P15 H67 1985
United Packinghouse Workers of America Oral History Project interviews, 1985–86
Oral History Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
Description: Interviews with Hormel and other workers in Austin, Cudahy, Swift, Armour, and South St. Paul, Minnesota.
Secondary
Videotape 145
We're Not Gonna Take It
Audiovisual Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
Description: Documentary film directed by Pamela Yates about the strike against the Geo. A. Hormel Co. in Austin by the United Food and Commercial Workers Local P-9 in 1985–1986. Videocassette, ca. 1986.