EVENDALE, Ohio — As the United Auto Workers strike against GE Aerospace in Evendale and Erlanger entered its second week on Thursday, UAW leadership announced the union is filing an unfair labor practice charge against the company.
In a statement, UAW leadership said the complaint pertained to GE Aerospace "mishandling and misrepresenting information by classifying (its) 'summary' as an offer." It went on to say more information would become available soon.
A company spokesperson said on Thursday that GE Aerospace refutes the union’s claim UAW members don’t have an offer to vote on.
"We are proud of the record offer we tabled for our 640 UAW-represented employees and are disappointed the Detroit-based UAW leaders have decided to strike before our employees have an opportunity to vote," the spokesperson said in a statement.
WATCH: Hear what UAW President Shawn Fain had to say during his visit to the Evendale GE Aerospace plant
The announcement of the filing coincided with UAW President Shawn Fain's visit to the Evendale plant, where he joined the picket line in a show of support, marking one week of striking.
"It's on the company, the company chose to do this," Fain said. "The company chose to put these workers out here, and it's up to the company to get a deal done, so we're ready to bargain and get things done."
Both sides admitted they remain far apart on a new contract agreement.
"The company didn't make an offer. Toward the end, they just came in and told us they were done talking and walked out the door," Fain said, speaking of the Wednesday before UAW members went on strike. "We're ready to bargain every day, we've been here every day. This committee is ready to get a deal done. These workers want to get a deal done."
UAW leadership said on Wednesday the UAW Local 647 bargaining committee reached out to the company but has heard "no response."
When asked about this, a GE Aerospace spokesperson said, in a statement, "Based on recent communications, we remain far apart, and we do not feel they are engaging in good faith."
The two sides remain divided on key issues, including job security, healthcare costs and pay.
For striking workers like Jake McElroy, a GE Aerospace production assembly mechanic, the financial sacrifice has been significant but necessary.
McElroy and his family told us they have been preparing for an extended strike for two years, knowing they would have to forgo weekly paychecks to fight for better working conditions.
"This is a good fight, you know, this is something you prepare for, and we've been prepared for," McElroy said.
The preparation has included difficult conversations about potential sacrifices, including child care arrangements.
"What does it look like if we have an extended strike; if it's more than four weeks — what do we do?" McElroy said. "Also, cutting back on and you know, if it comes down to it, and we have to lose our spot in day care, pull our kids out of day care. Then so be it, that's what we do."
Hear more about the impacts of the strike below:
Despite the financial hardship, McElroy has found some positives in the strike, including spending more time with his family while picketing continues.
His wife, Becky, supports the strike despite not being a union-represented worker herself in her profession.
"I wish I were a part of a union, so I could fight for my own benefits," Becky said. "But I'm going to support him and fight for his rights."
"We remain focused on serving our customers through our detailed contingency plans that ensure continued operations with the highest levels of safety and quality and are resulting in our operations at normal productivity levels," a GE Aerospace spokesperson said in a statement.
McElroy believes the company underestimated workers' resolve.
"I think they think that we are scared, and we'll just hold out on them for a week or a week and a half, and they'll just cave in and they'll be begging us to come back to work," McElroy said. "We, the union, did not walk out on strike. Because the company refused to negotiate, and our contract expired."
