Date of Award
1-28-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
History
First Advisor
Nathan Tye
Committee Members
David Vail; Linda Van Ingen; Peter Rachleff
Keywords
1980s farming crisis;Hormel;meatpacking;neoliberalism;UFCW Local 431;UFCW Local P-9
Abstract
In the 1980s, the labor movement reached a crossroads with economic changes and corporate restructuring challenging the effectiveness of New Deal labor unions. Meatpacking proved one of the hardest-hit industries, with laborers accepting concessions that jeopardized their quality of life. The Hormel P-9 Strike of 1985-86 exemplifies the rank-and-file’s struggle against neoliberalism and status quo business unionism. Rachleff’s Hard-Pressed in the Heartland argues for the importance of the P-9 as a social movement, placing the conflict within the context of the American labor movement, while Stromquist and Warren indicate the importance of Iowa labor when evaluating labor issues in the 20th Century. While previous scholarship focuses on the tension between the local and UFCW leadership, little has been done to examine the strike from the perspective of Iowans undergoing economic hardships caused by the farming crisis. The Iowa Labor History Oral Project offers a plethora of relevant interviews, while the “American Dream” collection at the Wisconsin Historical Society provides glimpses of P-9 interactions with Iowans. These collections, combined with local newspapers, offer unique insights into the impact of this strike in the Hawkeye State. Expanding the geographic focus of the Hormel P-9 provides new insight into a state under siege with economic and social concerns amidst political transition.
Recommended Citation
Pate, Scott, "Spam, Solidarity, and Roving Pickets: The Hormel P-9 Strike of 1985-86 in Iowa" (2025). History Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity. 53.
https://openspaces.unk.edu/hist-etd/53