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Kenneth Lee Schwertfeger

Kenneth Lee Schwertfeger, 89, beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend and longtime resident of Smith Center, KS passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home on Thursday, September 12, 2019. He was a man who quietly lived his faith, clothing himself with a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience (Colossians 3:12). Although dearly missed, his family is celebrating that he is now with his Lord.

Ken was born December 5, 1929 in Dodge City, KS to Cordelia Ruth (McPheeters) and August John Schwertfeger who then moved to Satanta, KS. He grew up on the family farm before completing a degree in agriculture at Fort Hays State College where he met the love of his life. He served in the Marine Corps in Korea after college and returned home and married Marilyn Gregg Freshour of Hays, KS. They moved to Smith Center in 1956 where he served as ASCS office manager until his retirement. He then worked as greenskeeper at the local golf course where he spent most of his time, along with building and operating ham radios and computers. Ken rarely missed watching the Redmen, Wildcats, Chiefs or Royals.

Next to family and the Lord, he loved the game of golf. He and Marilyn played in countless couples tournaments and events together. They celebrated 65 years of marriage in April.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Lucille and Loreta, and brothers Vern and Marvin. He is survived by his wife Marilyn and daughter Tamy of Smith Center, his son Ty and his wife Karen and grandchildren Lydia, Luke and Levi of Wichita, as well as nieces and nephews.

Click HERE for service details.

Vintage base ball games at Historic Fort Hays Saturday

By JAY BURNS
Society of Friends of Historic Fort Hays

On July 31, 1878 the commander of Fort Hays issued Special Order #4—“Enlisted men are prohibited from walking on the grass of the parade ground except on duty, this order is not intended to interfere with ball playing; but the base must be changed each time of playing.”

From this order you can see how important ball playing was to the soldiers stationed at Fort Hays. The first game reported at Fort Hays was played in 1869, 150 years ago, although few details are known.

Soldiers stationed at various forts in Kansas played base ball (originally spelled as two words) to break the monotony of their daily routine and for the pure fun of the sport.

Games were played by soldiers stationed at the forts, whose opponents included other soldiers, civilian teams, and even American Indians.
Occasionally, troopers on patrol, including companies of the Seventh Cavalry, played each other, with pickets posted “to prevent being surprised by Indians.”

On Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, visitors to Historic Fort Hays will have the opportunity to view four vintage base ball games. Late 1800s rules and uniforms will be used, as well as terms for the game. Players are ballists, a batter is the striker, pitches are hurlers,
and spectators are cranks.

The four games and their starting times are:

  • 10 a.m. Cowtown Vintage Base Ball Club, Wichita vs. Colorado Vintage Base Ball Association, Denver, CO
  • 11:30 a.m. Post Nine (Historic Fort Hays Team) vs. Emporia Vintage Base Ball Club
  • 1 p.m. Post Nine (Historic Fort Hays Team) vs. Cowtown Vintage Base Ball Club, Wichita
  • 2:30 p.m. Colorado Vintage Base Ball Association, Denver, CO vs. Emporia Vintage Base Ball Club

These games are free and open to the public. Please bring your lawn chair and enjoy the excitement of old-fashioned base ball. Food will be available on site.

For more information contact The Society of Friends of Historic Fort Hays, 1472 U.S. Hwy 183 Alt., Hays, Kansas 67601-9212
Telephone and Fax: 785-625-6812
E-mail: [email protected]

Fort Hays State Historic Site is located four miles south of I-70 exit 157 at Hays.

Author chronicles the life and legend of Coach Al Billinger

Author Darrell Mudd, Billinger family will sign books during TMP-M Homecoming weekend

By JACOB BRUBAKER
Hays Post

Most residents of Hays could point you to Al Billinger Fieldhouse on the campus of Thomas-More Prep Marian, but how much do most know about the legend behind the name?

Not enough, thought Darrell Mudd.

“I was shocked there was no book about someone who a building was named after,” Mudd said. 

That’s why Mudd teamed up with the Billinger family — Al’s children Alan, Roxie, Steve and Greg — to compose “The Legend Alvin ‘Al’ Billinger,” a book about the legendary coach. This is the sixth book for Mudd, who first began writing in 2005 and was first published in 2010. Mudd is a 1961 St. Joseph’s Military Academy graduate who played basketball for Coach Al in 1960 and 1961. 

The book tells the life story of Billinger, a small-town boy from Victoria who grew into a fantastic high school athlete. However, athletics was far from his only accomplishment. Al graduated from St. Joseph’s College and Military Academy before heading to the European theater to serve his country in World War II.

Al returned home to become a dedicated father and husband. He also returned to college to earn his degree while performing as an outstanding college athlete, most notably as a basketball player. Upon graduation, Al began teaching and coaching at St. Joseph’s Military Academy. Al had a number of other side jobs including house painting, selling life insurance, baking and  meat butchering. In his free time, he enjoyed the outdoors as a hunter and fisherman.

Mudd

The book doesn’t just tell the life story of Coach Al, it contains memories and stories from those impacted by him. In fact, over 70 people contributed a story or memory for the book.

The book was released in May 2019 via Amazon/Kindle. Author Darrell Mudd and Al’s children will be in town this weekend for TMP Homecoming, Sept. 20 to 21, selling signed copies of the book and visiting the community that meant so much to Coach Al. Mudd will also be talking about the writing process for the book.

Their book tour schedule is as follows:

• Sept 20: 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Hays Library on Main Street

• Sept 21: 8 to 10 a.m. at Hays, The Bricks Pavilion

• Sept 21: 11 to 1:30 a.m. at the TMP-Marian cafeteria, Dutch lunch

• Sept 21: 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Hays, Gella’s Diner & Lb. Brewing

Book sale profits will be donated to the maintenance/upkeep of the Al Billinger Fieldhouse.

Child safe after kidnapped during carjacking in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY. (AP) — Authorities have arrested three people in the carjacking of a vehicle with a 5-year-old child inside.

photo courtesy KC Police

Police say the car’s owner was paying for gas around 3 p.m. Saturday at a Walmart in Kansas City when an unknown man jumped inside the car and sped off, striking two other vehicles in the process. The owner was unable to stop the fleeing driver.

Police say the child was found unharmed a short time later, but the carjacker was gone.

Several hours later, police spotted the stolen vehicle and chased it until it broke down. That’s when the three suspects were taken into custody. Police say the investigation is ongoing.

Teresa E. (Bieker) Ashbaugh

Teresa E. (Bieker) Ashbaugh passed away, Thursday, September 12, 2019 at the Gove County Medical Center Long Term Care, in Quinter, Kansas at the age of 97.

She was born May 21, 1922 to Alexander and Katherine (Forster) Bieker on their farm north of Park, Kansas. She was one of ten children. Teresa attended country school and completed eighth grade. Through the Work Progress Administration (WPA) she worked in Garden City, Kansas in a sugar factory. During World War II, to help the war effort she ironed clothes for army relief. On May 16, 1945, Teresa married Emald Lee Ashbaugh in Park, Kansas. They were blessed with fourteen children. They made their home on the farm north of Park until 1964 when they moved into town. After a fire at their home in town, they moved back onto a farm north of Park.

Teresa was a devout Christian and member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Park, Kansas. She was also a member of the Sacred Heart Altar Society, VFW, and American Legion. Teresa was always willing to help out when and where she could.

She was a homemaker who loved to bake and always grew a big garden. The family had cows that Teresa milked. When Teresa wasn’t busy working, she enjoyed playing cards and Bingo. Her favorite card games were Canasta and Pitch. Playing Bingo was also high on her list of things as well as putting puzzles together. She loved babies, always holding and loving them when she had the chance. Teresa loved and cherished her family. They always held first place in her heart.

Teresa is survived by her sons, John Ashbaugh of Hoxie, Kansas, Joe Ashbaugh of Park, Kansas, Alex Ashbaugh of Hays, Kansas, Ron Ashbaugh and wife Judy of Melrose, New Mexico, Jim Ashbaugh of Park, Kansas, Mike Ashbaugh of Quinter, Kansas and Manuel Ashbaugh of Jacksonville, Florida; daughters, Kathy Cunningham and husband Pete of Schyler, Nebraska, Elizabeth McDonald and husband Edd of Park, Kansas, and Diane Ashbaugh of Oakley, Kansas; son-in-law Dale Myers; forty-two grandchildren; fifty-one great-grandchildren; and 27 great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Emald Ashbaugh; parents, Alexander & Kathleen Bieker; daughters, Veronica Brown, Darlene Ashbaugh, Dorothy Schwindt, Pat Myers; brothers, Clem Bieker, Bill Bieker, Tony Bieker, Joe Bieker, Al Bieker, Louis Bieker, and Martin Bieker; sisters, Elizabeth Rekofke, Veronica Heffner, and Josephine Bieker; son-in-law, Don Brown; and daughters-in-law, Pauline Ashbaugh, Lela Ashbaugh, and Lori Ashbaugh and two grandsons, Andy Webster and Jonathan Ashbaugh.

A Mass of Christian Burial is planned for Monday, September 16,2019 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Park, Kansas at 11:00 A.M. with Father James Thomas presiding. Visitation will be held on Sunday, September 15, 2019 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Park, Kansas from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. The family will greet friends from 6:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. with the Vigil Service starting at 7:00 P.M. The family suggests memorials to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church~Park, Kansas; Gove County Medical Center Long Term Care; or for Masses. Memorials may be sent in care of Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, PO Box 987, Hoxie, Kansas 67740. Online condolences may be left at www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com

Teresa lived a long life filled with love for her Lord Jesus, her family and friends. In life, she was loved dearly. She holds a place in the hearts of those who loved her that none other can fill. Nothing can ever take her away because fond memories will linger every day and remembering keeps Teresa near.

Betty Lou Kessler

Betty Lou Kessler, 89, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and former Russell resident, died on Friday, September 13, 2019, at the Atria Assisted Living Center in Virginia, Beach.

Services are pending with Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell.

Kansas State Fair to evaluate gun rules for concert security

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas State Fair will reevaluate its gun policy this fall because concert security concerns could conflict with state law that allows gun owners to carry their weapons openly.

Friday’s Lauren Alaina concert-photo courtesy Kansas State Fair

The fair had to screen concertgoers at the Sept. 7 Billy Currington performance because he required it in his contract, and the show was delayed while everyone and their bags were checked, reported The Wichita Eagle.

Fair Manager Robin Jennison said the fair will likely have to employ that kind of security more often if it wants to continue booking top acts because such requirements are becoming common. The fair also will likely have to impose some limits on the types of bags people can bring to concerts, Jennison said.

Dylan Evans, a member of the fair board, said the fair will have to refine its security processes to make sure it can get the audience screened quickly while still ensuring safety.

“I really feel like this is a new kind of area that we as a board need to look into more … and make sure we do the proper thing to keep the public that comes into the state fair and the people of Kansas safe,” Evans said.

Another board member, Harmon Bliss, said the process will improve as people get used to it.

Judy Ann Wondra

Judy Ann Wondra, 74, passed away September 14, 2019, at Olathe Medical Center Hospice House, Olathe. She was born November 7, 1944, in Hoisington, to Joseph and Burga (Kinzel) Steiner. Judy married Jerome Anthony Wondra Oct. 10, 1969, at Great Bend. He died July 20, 2019.

Judy, a life time resident of the Odin area, was a homemaker, farm wife, and librarian for the Independent Township Library in Claflin. She was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, Odin, where she served on the Altar Society and taught CCD.

Judy is survived by five children, Jeff Wondra and wife Dede of Holyrood, John Wondra and wife Ashley of Manhattan, Joe Wondra and wife Chrissy of Olathe, Jennifer Berens and husband Chris of Olathe, and Julie Wondra of McPherson; two sisters, Jeanette Shields of St. John and Joan Steiner-Adler of Port St. Lucie, Fla.; and five grandchildren, Rachel, Ryan, Abby, Aubrey and Gracie.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jerome; and two brothers, Hubert Steiner and Jim Steiner.

Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 17, 2019 at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, 415 N. Main, Hoisington, with family present from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., and vigil with Altar Society Rosary at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, September 18, 2019, at Holy Family Catholic Church, Odin, with Father Terrance Klein. Interment will follow at Holy Family Cemetery, Odin.

Memorials are suggested to Independent Township Library, Holy Family Cemetery Fund or St. Ann’s Altar Society of Holy Family Parish, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS, 67544.

Winners: Soundtrack of Ken Burns’ “Country Music” with 99 KZ Country!

We are giving away the soundtrack of Ken Burns’ PBS Series “Country Music” courtesy of Legacy Recordings.

Listen to Theresa Trapp Monday, September 16-Friday, September 20, 2019 for chances to call 785-628-2995 and win an album.

No age requirement to win.

Winners will need to pick up their albums at the KZ Country Studio, 2300 Hall, Hays, KS within 30 days of winning.

Disc One:
1. Can the Circle Be Unbroken (Bye and Bye) – The Carter Family
2. Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel No. 8) – Jimmie Rodgers
3. Fox Chase – DeFord Bailey
4. I’m Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes – The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
5. Mountain Dew – Grandpa Jones and His Grandchildren
6. I Want to Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart – Patsy Montana and the Prairie Ramblers
7. New San Antonio Rose – Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys
8. Wabash Cannon Ball – Roy Acuff and His Smoky Mountain Boys
9. Honky Tonkin’ – Hank Williams with his Drifting Cowboys
10. It’s Mighty Dark to Travel – Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys
11. New Mule Skinner Blues – Maddox Brothers and Rose
12. Foggy Mountain Breakdown – Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys
13. It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels – Kitty Wells
14. I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry – Hank Williams with his Drifting Cowboys
15. Crazy Arms – Ray Price
16. The Long Black Veil – Lefty Frizzell
17. El Paso – Marty Robbins
18. Ring of Fire – Johnny Cash
19. Crazy – Patsy Cline
20. I Can’t Stop Loving You – Ray Charles
21. Coal Miner’s Daughter – Loretta Lynn
22. Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’ – Charley Pride
23. Hungry Eyes – Merle Haggard and the Strangers

Disc Two:
1. Stand by Your Man – Tammy Wynette
2. You Ain’t Going Nowhere – The Byrds
3. Me and Bobby McGee – Kris Kristofferson
4. Girl from the North Country – Bob Dylan with Johnny Cash
5. Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way – Waylon Jennings
6. Jolene – Dolly Parton
7. Boulder to Birmingham – Emmylou Harris
8. Whiskey River – Willie Nelson
9. Pancho and Lefty – Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard
10. He Stopped Loving Her Today – George Jones
11. Don’t Get Above Your Raisin’ – Ricky Skaggs
12. Somebody Should Leave – Reba McEntire
13. Why Not Me – The Judds (Wynonna and Naomi)
14. Streets of Bakersfield – Dwight Yoakam with Buck Owens
15. Where’ve You Been – Kathy Mattea
16. Go Rest High on That Mountain – Vince Gill
17. I Still Miss Someone – Rosanne Cash
18. Will the Circle Be Unbroken – The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

 

Congrats Linda Palmberg, Kim Barnes, Josh Stramel, Jane Younger and Kenny Raudis!

 

Join fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry

 

 

 

 

 

 

No Deal: Auto workers in Kansas strike against GM for new contract, better pay

DETROIT (AP) — More than 49,000 members of the United Auto Workers walked off General Motors factory floors or set up picket lines early Monday as contract talks with the company deteriorated into a strike.

Workers strike early Monday photo courtesy WROC TV

Workers shut down 33 manufacturing plants in nine states across the U.S., as well as 22 parts distribution warehouses.

It wasn’t clear how long the walkout would last, with the union saying GM has budged little in months of talks while GM said it made substantial offers including higher wages and factory investments.

It’s the first national strike by the union since a two-day walkout in 2007 that had little impact on the company.

GM workers joined striking Aramark-employed janitors assigned to GM facilities on the picket lines Sunday night at a sprawling factory on the border between Detroit and the small town of Hamtramck.

Worker Patty Thomas said she wasn’t scheduled to picket, but came out to support her colleagues at the car plant, which GM wants to close.

She’s heard talk that GM may keep the factory open and start building electric pickup trucks there, but she’s skeptical.

“What are they going to take away?” she asked. “That’s the big issue.”

She said workers gave up cost-of-living pay raises to help GM get through bankruptcy, and workers want some of that back now that the company is making profits.

Striking GM employees were joined on the picket lines by workers from Ford and Fiat Chrysler, who are working under contract extensions.

Night shift workers at an aluminum castings factory in Bedford, Indiana, that makes transmission casings and other parts shut off their machines and headed for the exits, said Dave Green, a worker who transferred from the now-shuttered GM small-car factory in Lordstown, Ohio.

Green, a former local union president, said he agrees with the strike over wages, plant closures and other issues.

“If we don’t fight now, when are we going to fight?” he asked. “This is not about us. It’s about the future.”

UAW Vice President Terry Dittes, the union’s top GM negotiator, said a strike is the union’s last resort but is needed because both sides are far apart in negotiating a new four-year contract. The union, he said Saturday, does not take a strike lightly.

“We clearly understand the hardship that it may cause,” he said. “We are standing up for fair wages, we are standing up for affordable quality health care, we are standing up for our share of the profits.”

GM, however, said it offered pay raises and $7 billion worth of U.S. factory investments resulting in 5,400 new positions, a minority of which would be filled by existing employees. GM would not give a precise number. The company also said it offered higher profit sharing, “nationally leading” health benefits and an $8,000 payment to each worker upon ratification.

Because public statements from both sides conflict, it’s hard to tell how long the strike will last, said Kristin Dziczek, vice president of labor and industry at the Center for Automotive Research, an industry think tank. The length “depends on how far apart they really are and where the lines in the sand are drawn,” she said.

Talks were scheduled to resume at 10 a.m. EDT on Monday.

The union’s contract with GM expired Saturday night, but pacts with the company’s crosstown rivals, Ford and Fiat Chrysler, were extended indefinitely. The union has picked GM as its target company this year, and any deal it negotiates will be used as a template for the others. GM was picked because it’s the most profitable of the three, and because its plans to close four U.S. factories have angered union members.

On Sunday, about 200 plant-level leaders voted unanimously to strike against GM if no deal could be reached by Sunday night. Although talks were halted over the weekend, UAW spokesman Brian Rothenberg said there was still dialogue.

Before the talks broke off, GM offered to build a new all-electric pickup truck at a factory in Detroit that is slated to close next year, according to a person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The person wasn’t authorized to disclose details of the negotiations.

The automaker also offered to open an electric vehicle battery plant in Lordstown, Ohio, where it has a huge factory that has already stopped making cars and will be closed. The new factory would be in addition to a proposal to make electric vehicles for a company called Workhorse, the person said.

It’s unclear how many workers the two plants would employ. The closures, especially of the Ohio plant, have become issues in the 2020 presidential campaign. President Donald Trump has consistently criticized the company and demanded that Lordstown be reopened.

Rothenberg said UAW was striking for fair wages, affordable health care, profit sharing, job security and a path to permanent employment for temporary workers.

GM has factories in Michigan, Ohio, New York, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, Missouri, Indiana and Kansas.

A strike would bring to a halt GM’s U.S. vehicle and parts production, and would likely stop the company from making vehicles in Canada and Mexico as well. That would mean fewer vehicles for consumers to choose from on dealer lots, and it would make it impossible to build specially ordered cars and trucks.

Analysts at Cox Automotive said GM has enough vehicles on dealer lots to last about 77 days at the current sales pace. That’s well above the industry average of 61. But supplies of the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban large SUVs, which generate big money for the company, are well below the industry average.

The talks this year have been overshadowed by a growing federal corruption probe that snared a top union official on Thursday. Vance Pearson, head of a regional office based near St. Louis, was charged in an alleged scheme to embezzle union money and spend cash on premium booze, golf clubs, cigars and swanky stays in California. It’s the same region that UAW President Gary Jones led before taking the union’s top office last year. Jones himself has been touched by the investigation, leading some union members to call for him to step down, but he hasn’t been charged.

This year’s talks between the union and GM were tense from the start, largely because of GM’s plan to close four U.S. factories, including the one on the Detroit border with the enclave of Hamtramck, as well as Lordstown and factories in Warren, Michigan, and near Baltimore.

Here are the main areas of disagreement:

— GM is making big money, $8 billion last year alone, and workers want a bigger slice. The union wants annual pay raises to guard against an economic downturn, but the company wants to pay lump sums tied to earnings. Automakers don’t want higher fixed costs.

— The union also wants new products for the four factories slated to close. GM currently has too much U.S. factory capacity, especially to build slower-selling cars.

— The companies want to close the labor cost gap with workers at plants run by foreign automakers. GM pays $63 per hour in wages and benefits compared with $50 at the foreign-owned factories. GM’s gap is the largest at $13 per hour, according to figures from the Center for Automotive Research.

— Union members have great health insurance plans and workers pay about 4% of the cost. Employees at large firms nationwide pay about 34%, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Automakers would like to cut costs.

————————

DETROIT (AP) — The United Auto Workers union announced Sunday that its roughly 49,000 workers at General Motors plants in the U.S. would go on strike just before midnight because contentious talks on a new contract had broken down.

About 200 plant-level union leaders voted unanimously in favor of a walkout during a meeting Sunday morning in Detroit. Union leaders said the sides were still far apart on several major issues and they apparently weren’t swayed by a GM offer to make new products at or near two of the four plants it had been planning to close, according to someone briefed on the matter.

“We stood up for General Motors when they needed us most,” union Vice President Terry Dittes said in a statement, referring to union concessions that helped GM survive bankruptcy protection in 2009. “Now we are standing together in unity and solidarity for our members.”

It’s still possible that bargainers could return to the table and hammer out an agreement, but union spokesman Brian Rothenberg said at a news conference that it would be unlikely because it is hard to believe they could resolve so many issues before 11:59 p.m.

GM on Friday offered to build a new all-electric pickup truck at a factory in Detroit that is slated to close next year, according someone who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because that person wasn’t authorized to disclose details of the negotiations, which hadn’t been released to the public. The automaker also offered to open an electric vehicle battery plant in Lordstown, Ohio, where it has a plant that has already stopped making cars. The new factory would be in addition to a proposal to make electric vehicles for a company called Workhorse, the person said.

It’s unclear how many workers the two plants would employ. The closures, especially of the Ohio plant, have become issues in the 2020 presidential campaign. President Donald Trump has consistently criticized the company and demanded that Lordstown be reopened.

The UAW’s Rothenberg said the company made general statements about why it is planning to strike, but he would not comment further on GM’s offer. The union said it would strike for fair wages, affordable health care, profit sharing, job security and a path to permanent employment for temporary workers.

In a statement, GM also said the offer made to the union on Saturday included more than $7 billion in U.S. factory investments and the creation of 5,400 new positions, a minority of which would be filled by existing employees. GM would not give a precise number. The investments would be made at factories in four states, two of which were not identified.

The statement also said the company offered “best in class wages and benefits,” improved profit sharing and a payment of $8,000 to each worker upon ratification. The offer included wage or lump sum increases in all four years of the deal, plus “nationally leading” health benefits.

The announcement came hours after the union let its contract with GM expire Saturday night.

If there is a strike, picketers would shut down a total of 53 GM facilities, including 33 manufacturing sites and 22 parts distribution warehouses. GM has factories in Michigan, Ohio, New York, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, Missouri, Indiana and Kansas.

On Saturday, Dittes, the union’s chief bargainer, said in a letter to GM members that after months of bargaining, both the union and GM were far apart on issues such as wages, health care, temporary employees, job security and profit-sharing. The letter to members and another one to GM were aimed at turning up the pressure on GM negotiators.

A strike would bring to a halt GM’s U.S. production, and would likely stop the company from making vehicles in Canada and Mexico as well. That would mean fewer vehicles for consumers to choose from on dealer lots, and it would make it impossible to build specially ordered cars and trucks.

The strike would be the union’s first since a two-day work stoppage at GM in 2007.

On Friday, union leaders extended contracts with Ford and Fiat Chrysler indefinitely, but the pact with General Motors was still set to expire Saturday night.

The union picked GM, which is more profitable than Ford and Fiat Chrysler, as the target company, meaning it’s the focus of bargaining and would be the first company to face a walkout.

Talks between the union and GM were tense from the start, largely because GM plans to close four U.S. factories, including the one on the Detroit border with the enclave of Hamtramck, and Lordstown. The union has promised to fight the closures.

Here are the main areas of disagreement:

— GM is making big money, $8 billion last year alone, and workers want a bigger slice. The union wants annual pay raises to guard against an economic downturn, but the company wants to pay lump sums tied to earnings. Automakers don’t want higher fixed costs.

— The union also wants new products for the four factories GM wants to close. The factory plans have irked some workers, although most of those who were laid off will get jobs at other GM factories. GM currently has too much U.S. factory capacity.

— The companies want to close the labor cost gap with workers at plants run by foreign automakers. GM pays $63 per hour in wages and benefits compared with $50 at the foreign-owned factories. GM’s gap is the largest at $13 per hour, followed by Ford at $11 and Fiat Chrysler at $5, according to figures from the Center for Automotive Research.

— Union members have great health insurance plans and workers pay about 4% of the cost. Employees at large firms nationwide pay about 34%, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. The automakers would like to cut costs.

———–

DETROIT (AP) — The United Auto Workers union announced Sunday that its roughly 49,000 workers at General Motors plants in the U.S. would go on strike just before midnight because contentious talks on a new contract had broken down.

About 200 plant-level union leaders voted unanimously in favor of a walkout during a meeting Sunday morning in Detroit. Union leaders said the sides were still far apart on several major issues and they apparently weren’t swayed by a GM offer to make new products at or near two of the four plants it had been planning to close, according to someone briefed on the matter.

“We stood up for General Motors when they needed us most,” union Vice President Terry Dittes said in a statement, referring to union concessions that helped GM survive bankruptcy protection in 2009. “Now we are standing together in unity and solidarity for our members.”

It’s still possible that bargainers could return to the table and hammer out an agreement, but union spokesman Brian Rothenberg said at a news conference that it would be unlikely because it is hard to believe they could resolve so many issues before 11:59 p.m.

GM on Friday offered to build a new all-electric pickup truck at a factory in Detroit that is slated to close next year, according someone who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because that person wasn’t authorized to disclose details of the negotiations, which hadn’t been released to the public. The automaker also offered to open an electric vehicle battery plant in Lordstown, Ohio, where it has a plant that has already stopped making cars. The new factory would be in addition to a proposal to make electric vehicles for a company called Workhorse, the person said.

It’s unclear how many workers the two plants would employ. The closures, especially of the Ohio plant, have become issues in the 2020 presidential campaign. President Donald Trump has consistently criticized the company and demanded that Lordstown be reopened.

The UAW’s Rothenberg said the company made general statements about why it is planning to strike, but he would not comment further on GM’s offer. The union said it would strike for fair wages, affordable health care, profit sharing, job security and a path to permanent employment for temporary workers.

In a statement, GM also said the offer made to the union on Saturday included more than $7 billion in U.S. factory investments and the creation of 5,400 new positions, a minority of which would be filled by existing employees. GM would not give a precise number. The investments would be made at factories in four states, two of which were not identified.

The statement also said the company offered “best in class wages and benefits,” improved profit sharing and a payment of $8,000 to each worker upon ratification. The offer included wage or lump sum increases in all four years of the deal, plus “nationally leading” health benefits.

The announcement came hours after the union let its contract with GM expire Saturday night.

If there is a strike, picketers would shut down a total of 53 GM facilities, including 33 manufacturing sites and 22 parts distribution warehouses. GM has factories in Michigan, Ohio, New York, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, Missouri, Indiana and Kansas.

On Saturday, Dittes, the union’s chief bargainer, said in a letter to GM members that after months of bargaining, both the union and GM were far apart on issues such as wages, health care, temporary employees, job security and profit-sharing. The letter to members and another one to GM were aimed at turning up the pressure on GM negotiators.

A strike would bring to a halt GM’s U.S. production, and would likely stop the company from making vehicles in Canada and Mexico as well. That would mean fewer vehicles for consumers to choose from on dealer lots, and it would make it impossible to build specially ordered cars and trucks.

The strike would be the union’s first since a two-day work stoppage at GM in 2007.

On Friday, union leaders extended contracts with Ford and Fiat Chrysler indefinitely, but the pact with General Motors was still set to expire Saturday night.

The union picked GM, which is more profitable than Ford and Fiat Chrysler, as the target company, meaning it’s the focus of bargaining and would be the first company to face a walkout.

Talks between the union and GM were tense from the start, largely because GM plans to close four U.S. factories, including the one on the Detroit border with the enclave of Hamtramck, and Lordstown. The union has promised to fight the closures.

Here are the main areas of disagreement:

— GM is making big money, $8 billion last year alone, and workers want a bigger slice. The union wants annual pay raises to guard against an economic downturn, but the company wants to pay lump sums tied to earnings. Automakers don’t want higher fixed costs.

— The union also wants new products for the four factories GM wants to close. The factory plans have irked some workers, although most of those who were laid off will get jobs at other GM factories. GM currently has too much U.S. factory capacity.

— The companies want to close the labor cost gap with workers at plants run by foreign automakers. GM pays $63 per hour in wages and benefits compared with $50 at the foreign-owned factories. GM’s gap is the largest at $13 per hour, followed by Ford at $11 and Fiat Chrysler at $5, according to figures from the Center for Automotive Research.

— Union members have great health insurance plans and workers pay about 4% of the cost. Employees at large firms nationwide pay about 34%, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. The automakers would like to cut costs.

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