KANSAS CITY, Kan. — In clusters, the more than 2,000 employees at General Motor's Fairfax Assembly plant took to the picket line on day one of their strike.
Members of United Auto Workers Local 31 didn't want to talk about their individual experiences, but instead channeled their voices through union leadership.
"We're not just fighting for union members but for working families throughout the country," Clarence Brown, President of the UAW Local 31 said.
The union wants higher wages, lump sum payments and a stronger profit-sharing plan.
"GM just didn't move the needle enough for us to not do what we're doing now," Brown told 41 Action News.
On Monday, GM issued a two-sentence statement that said, “Negotiations have resumed. Our goal remains to reach an agreement that builds a strong future for our employees and our business.”
While it's unclear how long workers will refuse to work, the union says they're prepared.
"We have a strike fund that we are going to go into because of this. And when the time comes to get our little strike fund we'll give it to our members," Brown said.
They're hoping the walkout applies heat to the ongoing talks.
"It's going to impact everybody. The point is we're going to stand together through it all. Until the end," Brown said.
The Fairfax plant last experienced a strike back in 2008 that lasted 16 days. Another took place the year before that in 2007, lasting two days.
A CNBC report says at the time, it cost the automaker $300 million a day.
