OSHKOSH, WI- (WISS) – Braving the cold and imminent rain, about 90 members of UAW Local 291 in Oshkosh are on strike and picketing over an expired contract with Cummins, a global company specializing in designing and producing diesel fuel engines and generators.

Striking UWA Local 291 members at Cummins in Oshkosh. Photo: Lisa Hale/ Civic Media

The United Auto Workers union members are striking because their contract expired on January 29, 2025. However, the company has had minimal contact with the union to extend or renegotiate the contract.

“We have filed an unfair labor practice against the company. Our agreement was up the 29th of January. We’re at a disagreement about a couple of proposals,” said Ryan Compton, UAW Local 291 President. “We’re just – Man, we want to get them to the table to take this seriously.”

The Strike Issues

The company allowed the contract to expire, meaning the workers will continue working under the prior contract until something new is crafted. Compton said union members met with company officials about nine times, including three days last week. However, Compton says the company can’t return to the table until April 22nd. The company did offer a virtual meeting on April 1st.Compton says that is too long for the workers to continue without a contract.

“Enough is enough,” said Compton. “We want to get them to the table. We want to negotiate this agreement. They keep telling us they want an agreement, but they keep – You know, a couple days here this month; a couple days next month. That is unacceptable to us.”

Melinda Koski, Director of External Communications at Cummins provided this statement in an email to Civic Media.

“We have been engaging in ongoing, good-faith negotiations with union representatives at our Cummins Drivetrain and Braking Systems plant in Oshkosh,” Koski said. “We remain committed to exploring all available options to reach a mutually acceptable agreement while maintaining transparent communication with employees, customers, and stakeholders. Our next meeting is scheduled in the coming weeks.”

Banner at the UAW Local 291 headquarters. Photo: Lisa Hale/Civic Media

Compton said the issues the union members wish to discuss with the company include the definition of temporary workers and mandatory Saturday shifts.

Compton added that, with the striking UWA Local 291 workers, the only people working at the Oshkosh location are the management team.

According to its website, Cummins, headquartered in Michigan, has 3,700 service locations, 600 distributor branches, and over 75,000 employees worldwide.

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