Members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 617 voted on January 6, 2013 at the Keokuk Labor Temple to authorize a strike to protest Pinnacle Foods' plan to eliminate their pension plans. Local 617's five-year contract expired on Oct. 1, 2012 so Pinnacle's approximate 430 workers have been working under the old contract.

The current extension expires on January 6, 2013. Pinnacle wants to freeze its pension contributions. Going forward, the company wants to provide matching funds to workers' 401k plans for their retirements.

The union and company have reached tentative agreements in other areas during their ongoing negotiations, but the pension issue is the main sticking point. UFCW Local 617 believes the pension plan is the most secure retirement system for its workers at Pinnacle, whereas a 401k relies on less secure investments.