Another indication that IBP is moving forward would be the last contract they negotiated with the Local 431. Kallenburger called the contract the best that he had ever negotiated. IBP called the UFCW in the spring to start negotiations early. The average salary for a production worker at IBP is now $9.30/hour, which is not only good for an IBP plant but the pork industry as a whole. He was also proud to say that the contract helped set the pace for contracts in other meatpacking towns in Iowa. Kallenburger attributes better working relations with IBP to Ken Kimbro, the Human Resources Manager. Kimbro was easy to work with on a contract because IBP recognized that they were not able to hang on to their workers for long and realized that higher rates of pay were necessary to do so. In negotiating without striking, Kallenburger and the UFCW has avoided thus far many of the mistakes made by the unions when Rath Packing was in town.