P.M. BRIEFING : Catfish Workers Walk Off Jobs
About 1,200 production and maintenance workers walked off their jobs at the world’s largest catfish processor, the first major labor dispute in nearly a decade in Mississippi’s $875-million catfish industry.
Frank Dininger, international vice president of the Memphis, Tenn.-based United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1529, said the workers walked off their jobs at midnight. He said picket lines went up at two plants owned by Delta Pride Inc. at Indianola.
“We don’t have any idea how long we’ll be here. We’re prepared for the long haul,” Dininger said.
Earlier this week, union members had voted, 410 to 5, to turn down the company’s final three-year contract offer. Contract negotiations got under way Aug. 9.
The highest-paid workers make $4.30 an hour. The union had demanded raises totaling 19 1/2 cents an hour over three years.
A company spokeswoman said the plants opened for business as usual today.
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