Oshkosh Corp. set to vote on contract proposal

OSHKOSH, Wis. — A union leader says he expects workers for Oshkosh Corp. are going to reject the latest contract proposal.

Nick Nitschke is the president of United Auto Workers Local 578. He tells the Oshkosh Northwestern (http://bit.ly/n9apgU ) that nearly 3,100 employees are eligible to vote on the measure Friday afternoon. He’s predicting that two-thirds of the membership will vote against it.

He says should the contract be voted down, a strike vote could be held as early as Saturday.

The company is offering a $2,000 signing bonus and 8 percent in wage increases spread over five years.

Oshkosh Corp. spokesman John Daggett says the proposal makes it possible for the company to remain competitive.