Union members rejected a tentative contract reached by Voith and a union bargaining committee, and separately voted 22 to 6 to go on strike.

The union is the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Lodge No. 1855, District 10.

"Our membership told us in no uncertain terms they were were tired of forced overtime," said Scott Parr, assistant directing business representative for the union's District 10. "They want time home with their families, their spouses, their kids and their grandkids. That's the main issue."

Voith officials said the union vote took them by surprise.

"We value our union workforce located at our Neenah, Wisconsin facility and are surprised that they reached this decision as our contract offer included a competitive wage and desirable benefits package," Sheryl Zapcic, spokeswoman for Voith's North American operations, said in an email. "Our facility remains open and we are continuing operations with our sister plants."

"No other Voith facilities are affected," Zapcic said.

The strike affects the Neenah facility, which has 31 union members in a staff of 45 people. Twenty-eight members voted Saturday.

Voith's two Appleton facilities, which are unaffected, have a total of 400 employees.

"Voith has been part of the Neenah community for over three decades and we would like to see our employees return to work as soon as possible," Zapcic said.

"We are willing to sit down at any time to come to an agreement our membership will accept," said Parr. "To date we have not heard back from them."