GM Corvette Assembly Plant workers strike

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Negotiations between the United Auto Workers and General Motors reached an impasse Sunday night leading to a strike at the Corvette Assembly Plant as 49,000 workers nationwide began to picket.

A sign-carrying group gathered just outside of the access road into the plant at 11 p.m. Sunday.

The United Auto Workers voted to authorize a strike against General Motors for what they consider fair wages. The strike vote passed by nearly 98 percent.

Local UAW bargaining chairman Jason Watson told WNKY last week there should be a payoff for employees who took pay-cuts during the 2008 recession and still aren’t making a full wage and full benefits compared to more recently hired employees. 

The union is asking for what they consider fair wages and benefits

According to union officials, two of the main issues are hourly wages and how temporary employees are treated. He said some employees have been working under a temporary status for three years.

There are 900 union workers on strike at the Corvette Assembly Plant.

Jack Bowers, the vice president of the local chapter of the UAW, said negotiations continue between the union and General Motors but believes the strike could last as long as a few days to a few weeks or even longer.