Workers at a leather tannery in South St. Paul will return to work on Monday, saying they have reached an agreement after a week-long strike.
About 65 union workers at Twin City Tanning went on strike, alleging that the company was unwilling to negotiate in good faith at the bargaining table.
“They have now secured a contract with pay increases above the industry standard, attendance bonuses, and a ratification bonus,” according to a Saturday press release.
The union workers are represented by the Chicago & Midwest Regional Joint Board, Workers United Local 150.
The workers’ biggest demand revolved around pay, which they say doesn’t line up with the dangerous nature of their work.
Founded in 1988, Twin City Tanning is an affiliate of the nearby Twin City Hide and is listed as a certified supplier by the Leather Working Group, a global nonprofit that encourages sustainable leather production. Officials from Twin City Tanning declined to comment.
At a tannery, the raw animal hide goes through a series of chemical and mechanical treatments to remove hair, fat and flesh before a tanning agent is added to the hide to prevent it from decaying.
“There’s hazards all over the place,” said Mark Aufderhar, a maintenance worker at the tannery.
“You can’t have just anyone doing these jobs,” he said, adding that certain chemicals they use like chromium salts and sulfuric acid can cause severe burns if not handled properly.
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In addition to the abrasive chemicals, workers at the tannery said they encounter bug-infested hides and have concerns about the building’s outdated infrastructure.
The press release said the workers are “highly skilled” and use “dangerous tools and chemicals each and every shift, and they demanded and achieved a contract worthy of their value and expertise.”
During their weeklong strike, workers also picketed outside Red Wing Shoes locations because the shoe company is a “major purchaser of the leather produced at Twin City Tanning,” the release said.
“This agreement reflects the power of solidarity,” said Kathy Hanshew, president of the Chicago & Midwest Regional Joint Board. “All workers deserve dignity, respect, and a contract worthy of their labor. Twin City Tanning’s workers are heroes in the fight for labor rights in the tanning industry and beyond. We will stand with these workers and ensure their voices continue to be heard.”
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