ST. LOUIS – On Sept. 15, the United Auto Workers began its nationwide strike against the big Detroit automakers, in Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis.
One of the first facilities to go on strike was the General Motors Facility in Wentzville, in eastern Missouri.
No deal has been reached as of yet between General Motors and the UAW, but things might be moving at a better pace according to the Wentzville mayor, after UAW agreed to a tentative deal with Ford.
"I'm happy that (Ford and UAW) reached a tentative agreement," said Wentzville Mayor Nick Guccione, "I hope this is the end of the strike and everyone gets back to normal."
The impact of the UAW strike in Wentzville has not only affected the pocket books of the workers on strike, but also surrounding businesses in the area.
"We don't have the metrics to measure the impact until our numbers come in from our retail sales tax, but it has significantly dropped in participation in some of our local restaurants, venues in the city," said Guccione. "Most of these people work, live and pay taxes (in Wentzville). There's going to be an impact."
Guccione says it is weird to not see workers at the plant out and about.
"I'm used to running into employees from UAW, shopping or at restaurants and stores," Guccione said, "They're holding onto their dollars because they don't know how long this is going to go on."