SPRING HILL, Tenn. (WTVF) — Auto workers in Spring Hill gathered for the seventh day in a row to picket, chant, and call for change outside of the GM plant in Spring Hill, and other plants across the United States.
“Our big stand is: You’re not going to take our healthcare, you’re not going to ride off the back of the temps, we want our concessions that we’ve made in the past to make you profitable. Come back and equalize us back out, because that’s what we stand for. Quality, solidarity, and that’s what this is all about," Kristopher Gauthier, a worker at the Spring Hill plant on strike said.
Hundreds of people gathered on top of a bridge leading into the GM plant as part of Sunday's "solidarity challenge" and said they're in this for the long haul, both for themselves, and all workers trying to get their fair share.
“If we don’t fight for the middle class now, we won’t have a middle class.” Kristine Carneiro, organizer for Sunday's gathering and GM worker said. “We’ll come out every day, every day if we have to. We’ll come out through the cold and the rain and the snow. Bring it on, because we’re not backing down.”
Many workers are preparing to not receive full paychecks moving forward, and some local businesses in Spring Hill have offered part-time jobs to workers on strike to help them get by.
“It’s gonna be rough, but you know what, we’ve got each other’s back all day long," Carneiro said, adding that the community has been a big support.
United Auto Workers members said they plan to strike 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, until an agreement is reached and the strike is over.
