Regal Beloit, Valparaiso, Indiana, USA

There has been a great deal of turmoil at bearing manufacturer Regal Beloit in Valparaiso, Indiana with a two month long strike tuning into a decision by the company to close the plant which in turn lead to further negotiations-the details are below. It is of interest to us as this location maintains a fairly large in house heat treating department which includes several batch IQ furnaces, freezers and a reasonably large vacuum heat treating department. “After two months, striking Regal Beloit workers have agreed to return to work so the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 2018 can bargain to try to save the 109-year-old Valparaiso factory and more than 170 jobs. The union and Wisconsin-based company reached an agreement that 110 striking hourly workers, who hit the picket line for better pay and more affordable health care on June 30, will report back to work Tuesday so the two sides can negotiate Regal Beloit’s decision to close the plant and try to maintain some work in Valparaiso. The International Machinists Union also is appealing to the White House to intervene after Regal Beloit’s announcement that it will close the longtime Valparaiso factory. The plant once made golf clubs and electrical safety products and switches, but now makes bearings for the aerospace industry, including military helicopters.”