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Manufacturing Company In Ashland Reaches Deal With Union To End Strike

Agreement Ends Strike That Began On Sunday

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Employees picketing outside Bretting Manufacturing
Union workers went on strike just after midnight on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Employees are shown picketing outside Bretting Manufacturing on Monday, Dec. 17, 2018. Photo courtesy of KBJR-TV

A union and a northern Wisconsin manufacturing company have reached an agreement after union workers went on strike this week. The union was pressing the company for better wages, pension and health care benefits.

The Ashland Daily Press is reporting that C. G. Bretting Manufacturing Co. and the Local 621 union with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers have reached a contract agreement. The deal ends a five-day strike.

The newspaper reports that company president and CEO David Bretting and union representative Scott Parr issued a joint statement on Friday that the two had reached a three-year agreement. The Daily Press said the details of the contract weren’t shared.

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The union had previously rejected an offer from the company last Thursday. A union business representative had said Bretting’s proposal didn’t keep pace with inflation and rising health insurance premiums. The company told local news outlets that its offer included wage increases and preserved benefits for workers.

About 200 employees took part in the strike. Bretting Manufacturing has around 400 workers.

Representatives for the union and the company didn’t immediately return requests for comment.