UFCW Local 663 Union in Austin celebrates Labor Day

(ABC 6 News) – After a few years off during the pandemic, many community members came back together on Monday for the annual Labor Day picnic in Austin to celebrate union members who work in the meatpacking and processing plants such as Hormel and Quality Pork Processors (QPP).

The local UFCW Local 663 Union represents almost 3,000 members in southeast Minnesota.

More than 800 people gathered at the Veterans Pavillion to celebrate what it means to be a worker on Labor Day, especially after working every day through the pandemic to provide food to people across the country.

“I think it’s just important to thank the people who do the work every day. That is what Labor Day is about, that is what we are about as a union and we are just really happy to be able to celebrate our members and this community today,” Rena Wong, Organizing Director of UFCW Local 663 said.

There was fun for the whole family with food trucks, games, a pinata and a raffle drawing.