TROY, Ill. — Nearly 400 workers in Illinois have walked off the job. Union members at Eaton B-Line are on strike, fighting for better pay.
Members of the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Engineers, known as IAM, walked off the job Monday at midnight. This came after workers at the Eaton B-Line facilities in Troy and Highland, Illinois, voted not to extend their contract Sunday.
Eaton B-Line is a power management company that makes various products for aerospace, utilities and other industries.
IAM is the same union that recently reached a tentative agreement with Boeing in the Pacific Northwest, after tough negotiations. It was a weeks-long strike involving 33 thousand members. One of the main sticking points was pay, which is also the main sticking point for members in Illinois.
5 On Your Side spoke with striking IAM union member, Todd Peters, who was out at the picket line starting at midnight Monday. He said the agreement in the Pacific Northwest gives workers in Illinois hope.
"We'd like to get this over with as soon as possible and reach a fair agreement. We want to get back to work, we have families and lives," Peters said.
Union members will be rotating on the picket line every four hours, according to Peters. He has been with the company for over a decade and said this is his first time on strike.
"We're here to fight for our union brothers and sisters," Peters said.
A spokesperson for Eaton B-Line shared the following statement Monday:
We are disappointed and surprised at the decision to strike, given the unanimous tentative agreement that was reached between Eaton and the Union’s bargaining committee. Still, we remain committed to getting our employees back to work.
Eaton’s proposed contract is equitable and consistent with nationwide market trends and with our goal of attracting and retaining skilled workers. Eaton’s proposal represents a significant investment in this workforce and in the Highland and Troy, IL communities.
Our goal remains to work with the Union to achieve a mutually beneficial agreement that reflects today’s business, economic and competitive landscape.