Over 1,700 workers of a Wabtec locomotive plant in Erie, Pennsylvania, launched a strike Tuesday—the first strike at the factory in 50 years. This is Scott Slawson, president of United Electrical Local 506.

Scott Slawson: “We asked for a 30-day interim agreement to basically give us a chance to negotiate a fair contract. They weren’t interested in that. We’re taking the course of action that we feel is necessary to protect families, sustaining jobs in our community, and we’re standing up for workers’ rights around the world.”

The strike came one day after an $11 billion merger between Wabtec and GE, which used to run the plant. Workers say Wabtec officials refused to extend their contract as it stood under GE management, and proposed cutting pay for new hires, mandatory overtime and arbitrary schedules.

Independent senator and 2020 hopeful Bernie Sanders expressed support for the workers, writing in a letter to Wabtec CEO Raymond Betler, “Through the first three quarters of last year, Wabtec made a $256 million profit and had enough money to give you $3.5 million compensation package. … The Wabtec/GE merger should not be used to take away the hard-fought gains UE has achieved over the past several decades.”