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'We got to stand together' | Picketers mark first day of UAW strike at GE Aerospace

UAW Strike Day One
UAW strike Evendale
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CINCINNATI — United Auto Workers (UAW) marked Day One on the picket line Thursday after going on strike at midnight when no deal was agreed to with GE Aerospace.

Workers with picket signs and UAW shirts began striking at the entrance to the Evendale plant.

The UAW represents more than 600 workers in Evendale and Erlanger, and union leaders said GE's current proposals aren't cutting it. Dozens of UAW members rallied Tuesday at the Hard Rock Casino to protest the contract negotiations.

Workers threatened to strike against a proposed nearly 40% health care cost increase while demanding better job security and time off. As of Wednesday morning, UAW told us that GE countered with a 31% health care cost increase. However, the union said that's not good enough.

WATCH: Hear what those on the picket line on day one have to say about why they're striking

Picketers mark first day of UAW strike at GE Aerospace

In a statement, a GE Aerospace spokesperson called that 40% figure "misinformation."

"The truth is much different," he said, speaking of the total healthcare cost increase. "A total of 18% over three years, or $2,300 for family coverage for a worker making the median wage."

The spokesperson said the healthcare cost would increase "modestly compared to wage growth."

"We are proud of our last 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 GE Aerospace spokesperson said. "We remain focused on serving our customers and have activated a detailed contingency plan, deploying experienced and qualified GE Aerospace employees to ensure continued operations with the highest levels of safety and quality.”

"When I started here, this was an amazing place to work for," Joe O'Rourke, a UAW member on strike and 14-year employee of GE Aerospace, said. "But ever since then, it's just been one thing after another, you know, just take, take, take, take, take, and I'm literally where I was when I started, you know, with inflation and increases in health pay."

We also spoke with a 46-year employee of GE Aerospace on Thursday, Walter "Bo" Williams. He was a part of the 1988 UAW strike at the Evendale plant.

"I'm with guys that want what we (in 1988) fought for. I want to see them fight for the same thing," Williams said. "No pain, no gain. As I said, you've got to suffer to get what you want. Nothing is, most of the time, handed to you on a silver platter. So right now we got to stand together. That's the bottom line."

You can watch UAW members striking Thursday morning here:

UAW workers strike overnight after no deal made with GE Aerospace
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