September 17, 2025 2:42 PM CDT  By Werner Lange

CINCINATTI, Ohio—After successfully staging a 2 1/2 week strike against GE Aerospace plants in Evendale (Ohio) and Erlanger (Kentucky), UAW Local 647 secured a strong 5-year contract with this multi-billion dollar corporation. 

After the expiration of the old contract on August 28, 84% of UAW Local 647 membership authorized a strike. Union members set up six separate pickets, staffed 24/7, around the massive GE plane in Evendale, just north of Cincinnati. 

Not a single one of the 640 union members gave in to the company’s insistent encouragement, even demands, to cross the picket line. Adding to the strength of united action was the fact that two other smaller unions at GE, IBEW Local 212 and UA 312, uniformly refused to cross the UAW picket line. 

Only after a tentative contract was reached on Sept. 12 did non-UAW workers return to work with the understanding and gratitude of UAW 647.

Solidarity with the striking UAW workers came through in other important ways. Several political leaders, most notably former U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, who joined the picket line at least twice, strongly supported the UAW strike for justice. Others included Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton, the Mayor of Cincinnati, Aftab Pureval, and several city council members. 

Nearly every day of the strike, the Ohio Peace Council was represented on the picket line or on the I-75 overpass in solidarity. Joining the picket on September 14 were several CPUSA members after the conclusion of the Ohio District meeting in Sharonville.

UAW 647 members will vote on ratification of the new contract on September 19. The last UAW strike against GE Aerospace was in 1988 and lasted 8 weeks. GE Aerospace manufactures and services engines for commercial and military aircraft. Last year it reported $6.7 billion in profits.