CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Striking workers are accusing Cargill of cutting off their health insurance in retaliation for the ongoing strike at the Cedar Rapids plant.

The workers went on strike on October 1 after negotiations with the firm over wages and working conditions failed.

Teamsters Local 238, which represents nearly 100 employees, released a statement Friday calling the move to cut worker health insurance insensitive.

“For Cargill to take away health care from its workers in the middle of a strike is nothing short of cruel,” said Scott Punteney, business agent for Teamsters Local 238. “Hundreds of billions of dollars of this company are built on the backs of these hundreds . workers and yet choose to punish them and their families by taking away their health insurance. It’s a shameful tactic designed to force workers back into dangerous conditions for less than they’re worth. Cargill’s greed is on full blast.

The union is calling on Cargill to reinstate health benefits and meet them at the bargaining table.

TV9 reached out to Cargill to confirm if there have been cuts to health benefits, as well as a statement on the matter, but has not heard back.

In early October, after the workers went on strike, Cargill released a statement saying it has proposed a fair and competitive package for employees and that they are disappointed the two sides have not reached an agreement. Cargill also said it remains optimistic an agreement can be reached in the near future.