At the Bloomsburg Autoneum Facility, 280 union members are striking for better wages and health care costs.
“The company doesn't seem to really be taking us seriously or want to negotiate seriously with us. They kind of backed us into a corner," said Brian Heverly, union president. Unfortunately, yesterday ... we had a vote on the last offer that the company gave us. And it was an overwhelming rejection of that offer."
The company, which manufactures automotive carpets, has been in Bloomsburg for more than 100 years. It was recently taken over by a Swiss organization.
“It was a decision to go on strike and try and fight for what we hold dear to us," Heverly said.
The work stoppage began on Thursday.
Autoneum wants to increase the amount the union pays for the top healthcare plan, which the majority of the membership is on, he said.
“They keep saying that it costs them so much more per person in this facility than the other facilities in North America," he said.
The company has 10 locations in the United States.
The union has also been working without a contract since April. The company's offer does not include retroactive pay. The proposed raises are low for the union, especially with the increase in health care costs, said Heverly.
They plan to strike throughout the weekend, he said.
Autoneum employs 11,840 people globally and has 53 production facilities worldwide.
The company did not respond to a request for comment.
