P.M. BRIEFING : Catfish on Move Despite Strike

Delta Pride Catfish Inc. said today it has filled its customer supply needs nationwide and made successful strides in rebuilding its labor force in the wake of a Sept. 12 walkout by more than 1,000 workers.

Larry Joiner, Delta Pride’s president and chief executive, said that the company has hired 623 permanent replacement workers and that 875 employees are on their jobs at the company’s two struck plants at Indianola.

“This represents 81% of our pre-strike work force of 1,085 on the job at the two plants on any given day,” he said. “Our reports also show that 208 union members have resigned from the union and returned to work.”

Members of the United Food and Commercial Workers’ Local 1529 walked off their jobs after refusing to accept a three-year contract that would have raised salaries by 35 to 90 cents an hour. The union had demanded a better wage offer, pension improvements and a company health and safety committee.