Nearly 380 members of the United Auto Workers union were locked out of their jobs earlier this week amid stalled contract negotiations with Honeywell.
The previous five-year contracts between the New Jersey-based company and UAW chapters in Indiana and New York ended May 3, and union members rejected Honeywell’s latest contract offers late last week.
On Monday, 317 workers in South Bend, Ind., and 42 in Green Island, N.Y., were barred from entering their respective plants.
Workers were primarily opposed to increased health care payments and added that the proposed wage increase barely kept up with inflation.
The company, meanwhile, said that the health benefits would match other Honeywell employees in the U.S. and that the contract would enable the company to weather a sluggish aviation industry.
"We remain optimistic that we can reach a new collective bargaining agreement that provides wage increases and comprehensive benefits to our employees, is consistent with the economic realities facing the industry and supports the site’s long-term future," Honeywell said in a statement.
UAW Local 9 represents the South Bend plant, which employs 775 workers overall and produces commercial and military airplane brakes and wheels. Honeywell said that plant operations continued with salaried employees and temporary contractors.
Local 1508 represents 42 workers at Green Island who make airplane steel brake linings.
Workers at both sites picketed last week, but Local 9 officials indicated that contract talks could resume next week.
"This isn't going to work out for Honeywell," machinist Michael Hinchley told the South Bend Tribune on Tuesday. "That's why I'll persevere."
