Regal Beloit employees from Valparaiso, Indiana bring their work strike to the corporate headquarters in Beloit.
More than 30 workers in the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Union Local 2018 drove over 150 miles Wednesday to picket outside of the company offices on State Street.
Union business representative David Gault said they’re striking for more affordable health care as their premiums continue to rise.
He said they previously agreed to less favorable contracts in good faith when the economy was struggling, and Regal Beloit told the union that the company would take care of them down the line when sales went back up.
Gault said the company’s revenues continue to rise, and management isn’t compensating them the way they feel they deserve.
Regal Beloit couldn’t be reached for comment Wednesday night.
The strike officially started back on June 30. Gault said the two sides have been working with a federal mediator, but the company recently told the union they want to completely restart negotiations.
The manufacturing plant in Valparaiso makes specialty bearings for the aerospace industry, including contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense, and Gault said the temporary employees the company have replacing them in the plant won’t be able to keep producing them.
The next negotiating between the two sides is scheduled for August 27, according to Gault.
