UAW on strike

73,000 General Motors auto workers are walking the picket line tonight. They walked off the job after an 11 am deadline passed and began picketing outside 82 GM plants.

It's the first UAW strike in more than 30 years.  And it comes after days of round-the clock negotiations. GM and the united auto workers can't agree on a new contract. Job security and health benefits for union workers remain the biggest sticking point. Negotiations continue.  The president of the United Auto Workers Union Ron Gettelfinger explains why the talks broke down:

"It was going to be GM's way at the expense of the workers. We honestly believed that GM would come to the bargaining table and work hard. They gave us every reason to believe. On Thursday night, we had a meeting with them. From Thursday till Friday, the company moved on one issue. We knew then that we were headed to a difficult conclusion to these negotiations.   

GM says it is "disappointed" in the union's decision to call a strike.   Analysts say a prolonged strike could be devastating to GM's efforts to return to profitability.

The walk out is impacting work at the General Motors engine plant in Tonawanda. About 1500 UAW members are on strike there. Tonawanda workers hope this will be resolved soon.

"Considering I'm nearing retirement, I never thought this would happen, hopefully it will be short," says Andre Savard.

There is a chapter of UAW in Rochester.  It's connected to the Delphi plant. The Delphi plant makes auto parts and is a supplier to GM. The union locally tells News 8 they are not impacted by the UAW strike against General Motors.