After Imerys Talc America in Three Forks, Montana unveiled plans to phase out union workers' retiree insurance, seniority, and overtime clauses, and to alter work rules and classifications, Boilermakers Local D-239 union workers did not ratify a new contract. On 2 August 2018, Imerys informed union workers by letter that they would be locked out of the workplace and escorted remaining employees off of the property. The mill's union president, Randy Tocci, stated that the company brought in employees from other sites around Montana to run the mill in Three Forks, crossing picket lines. Over August and September, multiple Montana elected officials and candidates visited the picket lines, such as Democrats Governor Steve Bullock, Senator Jon Tester, and US House candidate Kathleen Williams. On 9 August Montana Governor Steve Bullock stood with the unionized plant employees for more than an hour, offering his support and expressing hope that the parties would return to negotiations.