UAW National Strike Against GM Begins As Union Backers Flood Into Flint

(Detroit Free Press) Jamie L. LaReau and Phoebe Wall Howard Sept. 15 2019 10:53 a.m. FLINT  An estimated 1200 Flint Assembly workers streamed out of the plant along Van Slyke Avenue in their cars at 11:59 p.m. Sunday marking the beginning of the UAWs first national strike since 2007. The autoworkers cheered by a large crowd of labor supporters turned toward the UAW Local 598 union hall down the street to pick up picket signs. They lined street that snakes around the plant that builds the popular Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups. Horns honked as union members from throughout the region arrived in Flint the birthplace of GM and a key spot in UAW history. In fact cars blocked Van Slyke completely as the now-striking workers left the plant. Dominique Birdsong of Flint said she left the chassis assembly line to strike with pride. We need to stand strong" she said holding a picket sign outside a factory entrance as the strike took effect at midnight Sunday. The strike comes against the backdrop of a federal corruption investigation that has implicated union President Gary Jones and his predecessor Dennis Williams. The action does not include Ford and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles whose UAW contracts were extended while the union tries to negotiate a deal with GM that would be template for talks with the other two companies. The union let the GM contract expire at midnight Saturday but told autoworkers with Sunday shifts to report. The union represents about 46000 GM autoworkers at 55 facilities in the United States. UAW spokesman Brian Rothenberg on Sunday evening told the Associated Press that contract talks would resume at 10 a.m. Monday.