Union members picket Kohler Co

Hundreds of union members and their supporters picketed at the gates of the Kohler Co. on Monday in the first strike at the Wisconsin manufacturer in more than 30 years.

The current contract expires at midnight Saturday.

In a small Wisconsin city on the banks of Lake MI, 1,800 workers are doing something that’s increasingly rare in the United States: They’re conducting a strike.

Union workers at Kohler Co. have overwhelmingly rejected the company’s last proposal on Sunday, November 15, 2015, according to a report from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

United Auto Workers Local 833 announced the vote results Sunday.

According to the Sheboygan Press, the company said even if the contract is voted down Sunday, employees could still show up on Monday to work. Kohler also offered contract approval bonuses of at least $1,000 to help cover the employees’ increases in health insurance costs.

A Marquette University professor says this strike could end quickly and cause very little impact on the local and state economy.

“A work stoppage like this will unfortunately cost our associates and can negatively influence our desire to grow jobs in this location”, the company said of its Sheboygan County site. The other is higher health care costs.

The company had hoped an agreement would be in place as of today and uninterrupted work would be assured.

“We’re sorry for any inconvenience it’s caused the community – but we have to take a stand for what we believe is right for us and our fellow workers”, Buechlar said. “The company is prepared to implement plans to ensure that all customer product and service needs are met”.

Union employees say those in the lower tier wouldn’t earn a living wage or have a legitimate opportunity for advancement, despite working side by side with workers who make significantly more.