Pictured are Ohio Democratic Congresspersons Marcia L. Fudge (wearing tan brown suit )(D-11), Marcy Kaptur (wearing pick) (D-9) and Tim Ryan (D-13) (Not pictured, Democratic Congresswoman Joyce Beatty of Columbus)

By Kathy Wray Coleman, associate publisher, editor-in-chief

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, Ohio's most read Black digital newspaper and Black blog with some 5 million views on Google Plus alone.Tel: (216) 659-0473 and Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com.

CLEVELANDURBANNEWS.COM-CLEVELAND, Ohio-Ohio Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, whose congressional districts include Cleveland, both released statements in response to the United Auto Workers strike that began Sunday at midnight when negotiations stalled and union workers took to the picket lines, Fudge saying she stands with the nearly 50,000 GM workers across the country impacted by the strike and both Fudge and Kaptur calling for the management labor conflict to be resolved as soon as possible.

The union contract negotiated in 2015 expired at 11:59 pm Sept. 14, the strike bringing some 33 manufacturing plants and 22 parts distribution warehouses to a halt, the largest strike since the GM strike of 2007.

In late 2018, GM announced it would layoff some 14,00 workers and cease production at five North American Plants this year, including some 1,4000 employees at the Lordstown, Ohio plant that sits in Ohio’s 13th congressional district, a rust belt district led by Democratic U.S. Rep Tim Ryan, who joined striking UAW members on the picket line, Ryan telling reporters that he "unequivocally stands in solidarity with UAW workers."

Fudge, Kaptur and Ryan are Democrats, and Fudge echoed Ryan's sentiments, the pair once a team when Ryan ran against now House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for House Minority Leader and lost by a two-to-one margin, Fudge toying last year with opposing Pelosi for House Speaker and instead supporting her, Ryan an underdog presidential candidate who lost Fudge's endorsement to Kamala Harris, the only Black woman in the race for president.

“I stand in solidarity with the nearly 50,000 GM workers across the country who walked off the job this week to demand a better workplace," said Rep. Fudge, a Warrensville Heights Democrat and one of two Blacks in Congress from Ohio. "These workers stood by GM during some of their toughest times and it is time GM return the favor and stand by their workers."

UAW members at the metal plant in Parma, Ohio, a Cleveland suburb that is part of Kaptur's district, are part of the strike too, among union affiliates across the country.

The longest serving woman in Congress, Kaptur, a Toledo Democrat whose ninth congressional district extends to Cleveland, said the strike brings back memories.

“As the daughter of a UAW organizer, I know firsthand how important, and often difficult, these contract negotiations can be for our workers and their families,” said Rep. Kaptur. “The contract sets out everything from healthcare benefits to pensions and hourly pay."

Kaptur said she hopes "the strike and contract negotiations are resolved quickly and in a way that keeps plants open, jobs in our communities, and upholds our autoworkers’ right to fair treatment and compensation in exchange for their honest labor.”

A former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus who leads Ohio's largely Black 11th congressional district, which includes parts of Cleveland, Fudge said "the U.S. auto workers on strike are fighting for the future of the middle class and the benefits needed, and deserved to maintain care for themselves and their families."

And, like Kaptur, she called for GM to do the right thing.

"I strongly urge GM to do what is right," said Congresswoman Fudge. "We must guarantee workers are protected and ensure a contract is signed without further delay.”