DEE ANN DURBIN and Tom Krisher

THE Associated Press

Sep 24, 2007

DETROIT – Thousands of United Auto Workers walked off the job at General Motors plants around the United States today in the first nation-wide strike during auto contract negotiations since 1976.
A GM Canada spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment, but union officials told The Star's Tony Van Alphen the car complex in Oshawa would likely run into parts shortages by early Tuesday and then shut down.

A neighbouring truck plant in Oshawa could continue for two days before it also stops output, added union official John Scanlon.

"It's still a little early to tell because we're trying to get clear information on how extensive the strike is," he said. "We should know better later today."

GM's Canadian operations include powertrain plants in St.Catharines and Windsor that feed U.S. operations but it is unclear how long they could continue because of the walkout.

In the U.S., GM spokesperson Dan Flores said the union launched a national strike after the late morning UAW strike deadline passed without agreement on a new contract, which would include a groundbreaking provision establishing a UAW-managed trust that will administer GM's retiree health care obligations.

Workers began picketing outside GM plants.

The UAW has 73,000 members who work for GM at 82 U.S. facilities, including assembly and parts plants and warehouses.

It remained to be seen what effect the strike would have on the automaker and consumers. The U.S. company has sufficient stocks of just about every product to withstand a short strike, according to Tom Libby, senior director of industry analysis for J.D. Power and Associates.

Charlie Coppinger, who has worked at GM's powertrain plant in Warren, Mich., for 31 years, walked the picket line along with a handful of others shortly after the deadline passed.

The 51-year-old Rochester Hills resident said he hoped a strike could be settled quickly but that union members were on the line to support the union and its bargainers.

"We're just here to support them," said Coppinger, who said leaflets were passed out indicating that the strike was on.

Flores said the automaker is disappointed in the UAW's decision to call a national strike.

"The bargaining involves complex, difficult issues that affect the job security of our U.S. work force and the long-term viability of the company. We remain fully committed to working with the UAW to develop solutions together to address the competitive challenges facing GM," Flores said.

GM had been pushing hard for the health-care trust – known as a Voluntary Employees Beneficiary Association, or VEBA – so it could move $51 billion in unfunded retiree health costs off its books. GM already has nearly 339,000 retirees and surviving spouses.

Worker Anita Ahrens burst into tears as hundreds of United Auto Workers streamed out of a GM plant in Janesville, Wis.

Oh my God, here they come," said Ahrens, 39. "This is unreal."

Ahrens has seven years at the plant, where she works nights installing speakers in sport utility vehicles. She waited outside the building today for her husband, Ron Ahrens, who has worked there for 21 years.

The couple has three children, including a college freshman, and Ahrens worried about how they would pay their bills.

"This is horrible, but we're die-hard union, so we have to," Ahrens said. "We got a mortgage, two car payments and tonnes of freaking bills."

More than a thousand UAW workers streamed out of GM's Delta Township plant near Lansing at 11 a.m. UAW members were handing out picket signs that say: "UAW On Strike."

"I don't think it's a win for either side. It's too bad it's come to this, but we have given up a lot already," said Pat Haley, 50, from Dimondale, a quality control specialist who has been with GM for 31 years.

He said he didn't have a big problem with the VEBA, but he opposes a possible $5 an hour wage cut (dollar figures U.S.) and restrictions on vacation time.

While GM has enough cars and trucks to withstand a short strike – the automaker had about a 65-day supply of cars and trucks as September began, according to Paul Taylor, chief economist for the National Automobile Dealers Association – it still would be costly for the company.

The UAW last struck GM in 1998. In that strike, workers at two GM parts plants walked out for 54 days, costing the automaker $2.2 billion.

The strike, which occurred between years when national negotiations were held, was over work rules and GM's plans to eliminate jobs.