MERRIAM, Kan. — The United Auto Workers strike continued for a ninth day Tuesday against General Motors.
Around 2,000 members have been on strike since Sept. 16 at GM's Fairfax Assembly and Stamping Plant.
When the news broke, people like Alan Heriford, who owns JoCo Auto Repair in Merriam, wondered if and how the strike would impact business.
Heriford said, "Until I make that phone call and somebody actually says, I don't have the part and I don't know when I'll have it because of the strike, that's when it first hit me, 'Oh man, this might be a significant deal,'" Heriford said.
Last week, Heriford tried to order a specific part from GM to repair a vehicle at his shop. With the ongoing strike, Heriford was told he could order and pay for the part, but the timetable for delivery was uncertain.
"I made a phone call just last week and the part that I needed they didn't have it in stock, and I asked him when can I get it and he said I have no idea," Heriford said.
Without access to the new part from GM, Heriford said he must repair the broken part on the vehicle or find a used one elsewhere.
"You kind of have to make due," he said. "Sometimes, you have to look at different options for possibly aftermarket parts or even used parts. There are things that can be done, but it can be kind of difficult. If it's a specialized part, it's only available and they say, 'Well, we don't know when you'll be able to get it.'"
With the strike now in its second week, Heriford said he's hopeful a resolution will come soon.
But so far, he said there's only been one instance during the strike when a customer needed a specific part from GM.
