VALPARAISO -- About 75 members of the steelworkers union protested outside Valparaiso's Menards store Saturday and urged shoppers not to buy building materials made by Georgia Pacific.

The boycott was called in response to the Atlanta-based manufacturer's refusal to bargain in good faith, Jim Robinson, director of the United Steelworkers of America District 7, said.

Steelworkers also distributed leaflets along the route of Valparaiso's annual Popcorn Festival parade.

The district, which represents 70,000 union workers in Indiana and Illinois, has been trying to negotiate a contract for 75 workers at Georgia Pacific's Wheatfield plant for 15 months. The facility makes wallboard.

"The company is profitable," Robinson said. "But Georgia Pacific is insisting that workers in Wheatfield settle for less in a contract than they have now."

He said the steelworkers union has contracts at many of the manufacturer's other locations.

Robinson said the protest will continue for as long as it takes to get Georgia Pacific to negotiate with workers fairly.

He said Saturday's protest was the kickoff of an expanded campaign throughout Northwest Indiana.

Contact Karen Snelling at 648-3106 or ksnelling@post-trib.com