Published 20:59 IST, September 30th 2019
A Tennessee couple left their wedding to attend General Motor's strike
The newlywed bride, while still in her wedding dress joined the sixth day of the United Auto Worker's nationwide strike outside the north gate of General Motors
LaCrystam Robertson married a fellow autoworker Steve Ferguson on September 21. The newlywed bride while still in her wedding dress joined the sixth day of the United Auto Worker's nationwide strike outside the north gate of General Motors plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee. Robertson told an international media outlet that if the UAW will still be on strike then the couple would go up to the picket line and stand outside the General Motors plant in their wedding attire. She further added that just because it's their special day, they wouldn't forget about what they are fighting for.
United Auto Workers' strike
About 49,000 UAW members around the country have reportedly walked off their job earlier this month. They are apparently protesting for better wages, health care, job security, and a process to make temporary workers permanent hires. General Motors reported use of temporary workers was a concession the union made to help the automaker get through lean years surrounding the 2008 recession. General Motors wanted workers to reportedly pay a greater share of their health care and wanted continued flexibility to use temporary workers. GM brought in a profit of $8.1 billion after taxes last year and also offered to invest more than $7 billion in new US plants to add jobs and increase pay.
The rustic affair
The couple reportedly reached the protest around midnight where their colleagues greeted them with applause. Ferguson, the groom visited the second time that day, he had apparently also completed his strike duty from 4 am to 8 am as well. The couple's love story began on the manufacturing floor three years ago. Robertson supposedly worked for the general assembly, where freshly painted Acadias and Cadillacs rolled down the line, where Ferguson who was a team leader was free to roam around the floor and took notice of her. After months Ferguson asked her on a date. Ferguson apparently proposed last Christmas and since then their rustic affair was in the work. It was a week before her wedding that the strike was called, Robertson reportedly told her colleagues she would be out on strike, even in her gown.
Updated 21:11 IST, September 30th 2019