Workers at Triumph Group in West Hartford were joined by union members from across the country and state elected officials Wednesday, Nov. 11, as they continued their strike that calls for better wages, affordable health care, and job security.

By Mia Jaworski

What workers are fighting for

The strike by Triumph emloyees follows the expiration of the workers’ contract at midnight Oct. 31. United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 405 is seeking four primary changes in its next agreement: industry-leading wages, affordable health insurance, cost-of-living adjustments, and job security.

Union representatives said workers have been facing increasing health care expenses since Triumph shifted more of the costs onto employees five years ago. According to union representatives, workers have been left with tens of thousands of dollars in deductibles and out-of-pocket costs, particularly affecting those with chronic conditions or unexpected medical emergencies.

Workers also raised concerns about the company’s change in ownership in 2025 and what that could mean for the future of the West Hartford facility. Triumph was acquired in 2025 by private equity firms Warburg Pincus and Berkshire Partners.

Union representatives pointed to approximately $680 million in company profits over the last five years, arguing that workers deserve a greater share of the company’s success.

Those demands brought workers and supporters together outside Triumph’s West Hartford facility on Veterans Day. For nearly an hour, workers and union members circled the entrance, holding homemade signs, chanting and cheering as passing drivers honked their horns in support.

A Veterans Day rally with a deeper meaning

The rally held particular significance on Veterans Day, as Triumph manufactures components and fuel systems used in U.S. military aircraft, including the Chinook, Apache and Black Hawk helicopters. Several workers and supporters also have military backgrounds.

Brandon Mancilla, a UAW regional director, addressed the significance of having workers on strike at a facility that supports national defense.

“It’s shameful that we have to be standing out here on Veterans Day, picketing a company that is critical to national defense,” Mancilla said.

He pointed to the workers’ contributions to military aircraft and the importance of maintaining the specialized workforce at the West Hartford facility.

“We are a team,” said Lenworth Williams, who has worked at Triumph for 15 years. “There are specialized men and women here. We want better pay. We specialize in aircraft. If I take a plane, I want to be safe and land safe. No cutting corners.”

Shawn Tripp, chair of the veterans council for UAW Region 9A, spoke about his 43 years working at the facility before retiring. His father also worked there for 43 years, retiring just one month before Tripp.

Tripp recalled the pride workers took in manufacturing components that supported military operations, including fuel systems for the SR-71 aircraft and Huey helicopters during the Vietnam War.

“When I went in there every day, there was a lot of pride,” Tripp said. “And for all the veterans who were in there with me, they had the same amount of pride.”

He noted the specialized knowledge and experience of the workforce arguing it cannot be replaced by a focus on profits.

“It’s not just a job. It’s a career in there,” Tripp said.

Workers remain on the picket line as negotiations stall

As the strike continued into its second week, union representatives said negotiations had stalled, with workers still waiting for the company to return to the bargaining table.

“We told them we’re willing and ready to negotiate at any time, anywhere, any place,” said Benjamin Wilcox, president of UAW Local 405. “We still have not heard anything.”

Mancilla also criticized the company’s approach to negotiations, asserting the union had been prepared to reach an agreement but had not received a commitment on its four core priorities.

He pointed to job security as a particularly significant concern, arguing workers want protections that would ensure the facility remains operational even if ownership changes.

“It’s the company that has forced this situation here in West Hartford,” Mancilla said.

The picket line continued to draw support from labor organizations representing workers across different industries. Representatives from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the American Federation of Teachers, the United Food and Commercial Workers, the Service Employees International Union, the Teamsters and UNITE HERE attended the rally.

Ed Hawthorne, president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO, congratulated the workers for demonstrating the power of collective action and refusing to settle for less than what they believe they deserve.

“You’re teaching all of us that we don’t have to settle for crumbs,” Hawthorne said. “We can stand up, we can fight back, we can demand our fair share of the profits.”

Hawthorne also pointed to the support coming from other unions and community members, emphasizing that the workers were not standing alone.

“We have something they will never have, and we have something that their union-busting attorneys will never understand. We have each other,” he said.

UAW Local 571 President Bill Louis said workers should not undervalue their contributions to the companies that employ them. Drawing on his own experience during last year’s strike at General Dynamics Electric Boat, he expressed sympathy for the workers’ situation while encouraging them to remain hopeful about the outcome of their efforts.

“There’s a day in life you have to stand up today for a better tomorrow,” Louis said.

Louis also presented Local 405 with a $5,000 contribution from his union to support its ongoing strike.

State officials join workers in solidarity

State officials also joined the rally, including state Sens. Jan Hochadel and Saud Anwar and state Reps. Kate Farrar and Bobby Gibson.

Farrar, who represents 20th district in West Hartford, said the continued strike was difficult to see, particularly on a day dedicated to recognizing veterans and their service.

She also pointed to the state’s previous financial support for the facility, noting that Connecticut provided $12 million to Triumph two years ago to support job growth and expansion.

“It’s simply unacceptable that they think that they can take that money and take away the security for you and your family,” Farrar said.

Farrar pledged to continue showing up in support of workers until they reach a fair contract.

Anwar, who represents the 3rd Senate District, also voiced his support for the workers, warning that companies that pay low wages while earning substantial profits could face higher taxes if their employees rely on government assistance.

“We will fight with you, and companies that are abusive of the workforce will not have a safe place in our state,” Anwar said. “Companies that are actually making money but paying such low salaries that individuals depend on Medicaid – we will have to tax them because they’re taking our money.”

Hochadel, a former president of the American Federation of Teachers Connecticut, connected the workers’ experience with other industries affected by private equity ownership, including health care. She encouraged workers to continue their fight and pointed to the benefits unions have secured for workers across the country.

As the rally concluded, Local 405 representatives thanked the elected officials, union organizations and community members who had joined the picket line.

The message throughout the morning remained consistent: Workers would continue standing together until they secured the contract they believe their experience and contributions deserve.

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