December 12, 2006 started out like a normal workday for me and my union brothers and sisters at the Swift meatpacking plant in Worthington, Minnesota. It would not remain normal for long. Several hundred armed Federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) surrounded the facility and beginning the process of sorting, interrogation, detaining, and eventually deportation of workers. The results of the raid were devastating on the workforce and the community.
Our local union, UFCW 1161, eventually weathered the storm and picked up the pieces with the help of the Minnesota AFL-CIO and its affiliated unions. Ray Waldron, who was President of the Minnesota AFL-CIO at the time, put out a call for help and the donations rolled in for the families of those impacted by the raid. Mark Froemke, Western Area Labor Council President, made a visit to assist the Local as it dealt with the aftermath.
The members, officers and staff of UFCW Local 1161 remember this difficult time when the Minnesota AFL-CIO demonstrated the true meaning of solidarity.
As we enter this new decade the labor movement still faces many challenges. The membership of UFCW Local 1161, under the leadership of President Mike Potter, understands that the best way to address these challenges is to have a labor movement that is united and strong. Health care reform, the Employee Free Choice Act, immigration reform, workplace safety and job creation are some of the issues that concern our members. Working together with the Minnesota AFL-CIO we can address those issues and work to elect state and federal legislators and a governor who will stand up for workers’ rights and working families.
UFCW Local 1161 is excited to again be one of many unions working with President Shar Knutson and the staff of the state federation since signing our solidarity charter. We look forward to working together in 2010 and the future in strengthening the labor movement in southwest Minnesota, the Western Area Labor Council, and the great state of Minnesota.
UFCW Local 1161 represents a diverse workforce of over 2,000 members in Worthington, Luverne, Butterfield, St. James, and Madelia.
Dale Moerke is a member of United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 1161. The Minnesota AFL-CIO solicited Dale for this post. You can read Dale's blog at http://cornerhousecomments.wordpress.com/.