Metro Ammunitions Union to Strike at Midnight

Around 1,350 workers at Olin Winchester's Lake City Army Ammunition Plant will walk off the job over wages and overtime

Apr. 4, 2026 at 10:33am

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The Local 778 chapter of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Union announced that its members will go on strike at midnight on Saturday after rejecting the company's contract offer. The union says the offer was unfair on standards of wages, mandatory overtime, and work-life balance for the workers who produce small arms ammunition for the U.S. military.

Why it matters

This strike could disrupt the supply of critical military ammunition at a time of global uncertainty. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between labor unions and management over fair compensation and working conditions in the defense manufacturing sector.

The details

The bargaining committee did not recommend a yes-vote on the company's offer, and the union membership showed the same sentiment. The union says the company's offer to these workers is 'just not good enough' as they have not seen wage increases reflective of the economy and have endured countless hours of overtime.

  • The strike will begin at midnight on Saturday, April 4, 2026.

The players

Local 778 chapter of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Union

The local union chapter representing around 1,350 workers at the Olin Winchester Lake City Army Ammunition Plant.

Olin Winchester

The company that operates the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, a major producer of small arms ammunition for the U.S. military.

Scott Brown

The Directing Business Representative for IAM Local 778.

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What they’re saying

“The company's offer to these workers is just not good enough. We are not asking for anything unreasonable, as these workers have not seen wage increases reflective of the economy and have endured countless hours of overtime.”

— Scott Brown, Directing Business Representative, IAM Local 778

What’s next

The strike will begin at midnight on Saturday, April 4, 2026, and its impact on military ammunition supply will be closely watched in the coming days and weeks.

The takeaway

This labor dispute highlights the ongoing challenges faced by defense industry workers seeking fair compensation and better working conditions, even as their work supports critical national security priorities.