Over 2,000 General Dynamics Electric Boat employees are threatening to strike this weekend.

According to UAW Local 571, workers could strike as early as Sunday at midnight.

The Groton based company designs and makes nuclear submarines for the U.S. military. It is one of Connecticut's largest and most well-known companies.

Nathan Pensler of UAW Communications says workers are demanding "better wages, retirement security for all, cost-of-living adjustments, and respect on the job." If Electric Boat does not meet these demands, 2,400 workers are prepared to strike and nearly 2,000 workers have signed up for picket duty, he says.

According to Pensler, Electric Boat has pushed for increases in weekly medical insurance costs, even though the company has made over $13 billion in profits over the past three years and $1.3 billion in first quarter profits.

On Friday, a pre-strike rally was held at Ocean Beach Park in New London, attended by union members and politicians including Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy.

Murphy tweeted that if workers do strike, it would be the first time in 40 years.

Electric Boat sent the following information to News 12, "We continue to negotiate in good faith with the hope of reaching a mutually beneficial agreement."