KOKOMO, Ind. — The president of the United Auto Workers detailed plans for what he called a potentially historic strike against the three major auto makers: General Motors, Ford and Stellantis.
That strike could involve thousands of Indiana workers, but they won't learn who or even if they will strike until at least 11:59 Thursday night.
Many of them came to rally Wednesday at Foster Park in Kokomo.
"Nobody wants it. Nobody really wins at the end of the day in a strike, but it's a tool that they have the right to use when it comes to collective bargaining agreement," said Brett Voorhies, president of the Indiana AFL-CIO.
Among their list of demands: a 40% pay increase over four years and a 32-hour work week. The union appears to be far from a compromise on wages and benefits. That could lead to targeted strikes at a small number of factories.
Carol Tyler has worked at the Stellantis Casting Plant in Kokomo for 26 years.
"We're going to hit the picket line, and we're going to stand strong until we get what we're asking for," Tyler said.
Those fighting include workers at the Stellantis plant in Tipton and GM plants in Bedford, Marion and Kokomo.
"You have union officials — that's not going to steer us wrong. You have international officials — that's not going to steer us wrong. You have international staff — that's not going to steer us wrong. We're asking for what's right for us," Tyler said.