Maytag workers go on strike

Union workers who make appliances at the Maytag plant in Newton are now on strike. Maytag spokeswoman Lynne Dragomier made the announcement Thursday afternoon. She says negotiations between Maytag and U-A-W local 997 on a new labor contract covering production and maintenance employees have been unsuccessful in reaching an agreement. She says this resulted in appliance production being halted at the plant. The negotiations have been ongoing and were originally set to expire June 1st, but then were extended to June 10th. She says, “Maytag is very disappointed an agreement was not reached.” The union represents about 16-hundred employees at the Newton plant. The strike comes in the wake of a recent announcement that the company is restructuring and laying off 11-hundred workers — some at the Newton plant.