KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It's the 18th day of the United Auto Workers strike at General Motors plants nationwide.
Since the start of the strike, UAW Local 31 members have been picketing around the clock at the Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas City, Kansas. The workers are picketing in six-hour shifts, hoping a deal is struck soon.
But from the looks of it, it's unclear exactly when that will happen.
According to the Detroit Free Press, the UAW and General Motors are nowhere close to an agreement. The UAW told the newspaper that GM came up short on health care, wages and temporary workers.
A more permanent pathway for temporary workers is one of the biggest issues the union is negotiating with General Motors.
Those workers receive no vacation, sick days or health care benefits.
According to MarketWatch, one of the biggest sticking points is GM's provision requiring temporary workers to be employed three uninterrupted years before they can become full-time.
The union believes that would make it impossible for them to get permanent jobs.
In a statement to 41 Action News, GM said they are continuing to "negotiate and exchange proposals."
"We remain committed to reaching an agreement that builds a stronger future for our employees and our company," GM said in the statement.
Analyst JP Morgan said the 18-day strike has cost the automaker just over $1 billion.
Negotiations are expected to continue on Thursday.
