Union strikes at GM Fairfax plant

United Auto Workers Local 31 went on strike at 9 a.m. Monday at General Motors Corp.'s Fairfax Assembly plant.

Union President Jeff Manning couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

Local 31 said on its Web site that it had no alternative but to strike after no progress was made all weekend. The site listed its main issue of contention as management not allowing seniority to play a role in job placement and shift preference. Other sticking points in the local contract negotiations include lack of in-plant medical coverage and concern about various jobs at the plant being outsourced to contractors and vendors.

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Local 31 has about 2,600 members.

"We're disappointed that UAW Local 31 has taken strike action at the Fairfax Plant," GM corporate spokesman Dan Flores said. "We're going to remain focused on reaching an agreement as soon as possible."

Flores said the Chevy Malibu and Saturn Aura, produced at the Fairfax plant, are two of GM's most important products. The Malibu is one of the company's best-selling products.

"The Malibu is doing very well in the marketplace, and there is a short supply of them because the demand has been high, so we hope to get this resolved quickly," Flores said.

Flores said General Motors also produces the Chevy Malibu at a plant in Orion, Mich., so the company can continue to feed the market with cars from that plant. He said that General Motors will explore options for increasing production at the Orion plant but that the company's main focus is resolving the dispute at the Fairfax plant and getting the people there back to work.

The Fairfax Assembly Plant ranks No. 15 on the Kansas City Business Journal's list area private-sector employers, with 2,700 employees. The plant makes the Chevy Malibu and Saturn Aura, and hybrid versions of each.