We are the union for Dold / Hormel workers!
We are the workers at Dold Foods in Wichita, Kansas, and we’re THRILLED to announce that we’re starting a union at our facility! We’re coming together because we work hard every single day and it’s time for Dold Foods to respect us, protect us, and pay us what we deserve.
We are joining thousands of other Hormel workers across the Midwest who already have union contracts that guarantee their pay, benefits, and working conditions. It’s our turn to stand up for ourselves and bring home the bacon.
If you work at Dold Foods, it’s important that we hear from you. Reach out to one of our coworkers inside the facility or a union organizer using the form below to learn how you can get involved as we work to make Dold a strong union workplace.
Hormel Workers Explain the Union Difference
Get Connected with the Dold Union Today!
What We’re Fighting For at Dold Foods
The Wages and Bonuses We Deserve
Our work is demanding, and we deserve better wages to live in the communities we call home. We should never have to worry about our hard-earned annual bonus being taken away. That’s why we’re fighting for guaranteed wage increases and annual bonuses – all protected in writing.
A Better Points System and Transparency On The Job
We all make mistakes on the job, but this doesn’t mean we should be subjected to unfair discipline or punishment. The current system at Dold revolves around “points,” which creates a lot of confusion and inconsistency across the board.
With our union, we will re-work the way discipline is handled and establish a clear way to speak up when we are not being treated fairly. With a union contract backing us up, we will get policies in writing that create a fair work environment for everyone.
Better Vacation Policies and Sick Leave
Our work is physically demanding, and we can’t be expected to be on the floor 365 days a year. We deserve time to recharge, and we need sick days to take care of ourselves and our families.
That’s why we’re fighting for more paid time off and sick days secured in writing so we can balance our obligations, spend time with family, and make sure we stay healthy all year round.
Language Translation for Everyone
Our facility is diverse, and we all deserve to have equal access to the resources we need. We shouldn’t have to jump through hoops or wait forever to access important information about our pay and benefits, no matter what language we speak!
With our union, we’re fighting for interpreters on the floor and for written policies that are translated for all of us to access and understand in APD, Oracle, and the other platforms we regularly use.
Protections Against Favoritism and Ageism
Every single one of us works hard to keep Dold running smoothly, and we shouldn’t have to worry about whether we’ll be treated differently based on our age or our relationship with management.
Without a union, we don’t have many protections against favoritism, ageism, or other forms of discrimination. But, once we start our union, we can document issues when they happen and work with our union representatives to hold management to a fair standard!
A Say in the Future of Our Facility!
Thousands of our coworkers across the Midwest have already started their unions and secured a say in how their Hormel facilities are run. We deserve a union, too. They’ve started a new chapter where they get a voice in the policies that affect their careers, and it’s time we do the same thing here at Dold!
What Happens Next?
We’ve been building support for our union by talking to many of our coworkers. Now, we are ready to have a union election and negotiate a strong contract. See the official next steps below:
- File for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board
- Keep talking to each other about what we want to change at Dold and make a list of our top priorities
- Receive election date from the Board
- VOTE & WIN in our union election!! Typically in-person at our facility
- Choose a negotiating team and begin contract negotiations
- VOTE on our union contract
- When our contract passes – CONGRATULATIONS! We are union members!
- Choose union shop stewards, start paying union dues, and begin enforcing our contract to have the strongest union possible!
Dold Union Frequently Asked Questions
“Do other Hormel workers have a union?”
Yes! In fact, the majority of Hormel workers across the Midwest already have their union. We share a parent company with these workers, and they’ve achieved incredible things by standing up for a voice on the job.
They regularly negotiate with Hormel for better wages, benefits, and workplace policies. It’s time we make the same progress here at Dold Foods and secure the protections and representation that our coworkers already have!
“What have other Hormel workers won with their union?”
With their union, our coworkers at Hormel have won significant wage increases and benefits that make their life better! For example, in Georgia, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa, workers secured the biggest raises in the history of the company, and they negotiated improvements to their bereavement leave, pension, healthcare, and 401K plans.
Our coworkers at Hormel made this possible because they took initiative and used their collective voice to fight for what they deserved. We’re inspired by them, and it’s time we follow in their example and start a new chapter here at Dold Foods!
“How would having a union change the way discipline is handled at our facility?”
With a union, we can work to ensure we’re treated fairly 100% of the time. Having a union at our facility can help us protect ourselves if Dold doesn’t stick to its word or its discipline policies, because we can work with our union representatives to hold them accountable under federal labor law.
For example, when something happens, the union will investigate the issue (also known as a grievance) and work with the company to resolve it, or the union will investigate the issue and ensure it is resolved fairly.
“Is it illegal for Dold to interfere with our union campaign? What are they prohibited from doing?”
During our union campaign, we have rights under federal law to protect us. There are many things Dold can’t do while we’re unionizing, and it’s easy to watch out for some of the biggest ones if you remember the acronym: TIPS! This stands for Threaten, Interrogate, Promise, or Spy.
- Dold can’t Threaten us by saying they’ll fire or discipline people who support a union.
- Dold can’t Interrogate us by asking us what kind of union activity is happening at our facility or how we plan to vote in our election.
- Dold can’t Promise to give us raises or similar benefits to people who vote against a union.
- Dold can’t Spy on us to figure out whether we support a union or participate in union activity.
If Dold does any of these things, it’s a violation of federal labor law, and we can work to hold them accountable!
“Would starting a union change the policies we already like here at Dold Foods?”
The simple answer is – no! When we start a union, we get to sit down with Dold and negotiate a contract that includes all the policies and protections we need to do our best work. This means, if there’s something that we already like about our jobs or our facility, we can incorporate it into our contract and secure it in writing.
Meanwhile, if there are things we don’t like about our jobs, we can negotiate changes to those policies and implement better versions in writing. We can overhaul what we need to, and hang on to everything that’s already working!
“How can I get involved with the Dold Union?”
The best way for you to get involved with our union at Dold is to fill out the form above and set up a conversation with a UFCW union organizer, or ask a coworker how to get involved! They can answer your questions, talk about what it means to have a union on the job, and ask you about what you want to see changed at our facility.
