DAVENPORT, IOWA — Workers represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) 431 union overwhelmingly ratified a new four-year contract at the Hormel Foods plant in Knoxville, Iowa.

The deal states that the members will receive $4 per hour raises, which will be allocated over the agreement’s duration. The union represents about 200 employees at the facility. 

“We are pleased that we have reached a new, four-year agreement with the union representing our team members in Knoxville, Iowa,” Hormel said in a statement. “We are proud to continuously invest in our people in recognition of the work they do to put the safe, quality food that consumers trust and need on tables across the globe.”

Other details from the contract include protection for health care coverage, an increase in pensions and 401K benefits along with double the amount of bereavement leave compared to a previous agreement.

According to the Des Moines Register, the union rejected Hormel’s first offer at the beginning of March but decided to extend the previous contract until April 4 while negotiating this latest deal.

Hormel states on its website that the Knoxville plant produces 1 million lbs of dry sausage a week. Some of the products made include Homeland hard salami, Rosa Grande pepperoni and Hormel Pillow Pack pepperoni.