Local union workers at the General Motors plant in Spring Hill are in their second day of a nationwide strike against the company. About 800 workers walked out of the plant yesterday morning.
When the facility opened as a Saturn plant, the company was protected from strikes, but two years ago, GM changed its agreement with workers there and now, they operate under the same contract as other GM workers. Local UAW 1853 Chairman Mike Herron:
“I don’t think anybody likes the idea of being on strike. However, sometimes it’s necessary to take these steps short term to ensure your long term viability.”
The strike comes after nearly half of the plant’s 4,700 workers were laid off for 18 months while the former Saturn plant is retooled to produce other GM vehicles.
There are 3,600 local union workers who will be rotating through the strike line at the Spring Hill plant.
Herron says he is getting frequent updates about how talks are going in Detroit. A major sticking point is the healthcare costs for workers and retirees.
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