Pennexx Foods Inc. workers in Fort Madison, a majority of who are represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 617, voted on February 14, to ratify a new four-year contract that preserves their pension plan and includes a wage increase of $1.60 to $1.80 over the term of the agreement. Earlier in January, Pinnacle Foods workers voted to authorize a strike to protest the company's plan to eliminate their pension plans. The new contract covers over 450 Pinnacle Foods workers in the Fort Madison plant, which manufactures canned food products, including Vienna sausages, Armour brand corned beef hash, beef stew and chili.