As the United Auto Workers’ nationwide GM strike stretches into the weekend, reports of clashes between strikers and individuals attempting to enter picketed GM facilities have been steadily trickling in. The latest comes to us from the GM Spring Hill plant in Tennessee, where one striker ended up in the hospital after a van swerved through the picket line.
The flare-up occurred early Thursday, when a white cargo van approached the GM Spring Hill plant picket line and attempted to enter. UAW strikers blocked the van’s path, but when the driver grew impatient, GM worker Dennis Urbania was caught in the middle.
“A white cargo van pulled up in the far lane over there and they had an issue with him earlier this morning,” Urbania told FOX17 News. “He gunned it and tried to come around the picketers.”
After a group of people ran towards the van, the driver hit the gas again, barreling towards the GM strike picketers.
“I tried to grab a lady because she was in front of the van and next thing I know everything got bright, chest got tight, couldn’t breathe, started sweating,” Urbania said.
GM worker waiting on heart transplant ended up in the hospital today after a van swerved around his picket line and came straight toward him. Doctors checked him to make sure he didn’t go into cardiac arrest. Thankfully he’s okay! Story tonight on @FOXNashville pic.twitter.com/CVGjWWsONH
— Kathleen Jacob FOX17 (@Kathleenjjacob) September 19, 2019
Urbania is currently awaiting a heart transplant, and after surviving 11 heart attacks, he knows the symptoms of a cardiac event.
“I can tell when they’re coming, especially when you get double heartbeats,” Urbania said.
Urbania was promptly rushed to Williamson Medical Center to undergo testing. Luckily, doctors found no signs of cardiac arrest, but concluded he had still experienced a serious heart-related event.
“I told the lady, ‘Send the bill to my house and we’ll figure it out from there,'” Urbania said.
General Motors recently revoked health insurance benefits for UAW members participating in the GM strike, placing a serious drain on UAW strike funds in the process. Without insurance, Urbania says he won’t be able to accept should he receive a call about an available heart needed for the transplant procedure. The surgery reportedly costs more than $6,000,000.
After being discharged from the hospital, Urbania was back at the picket line Thursday evening. Meanwhile, GM and UAW have yet to hash out a labor contract, as progress is reportedly slow-going.
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Source: Fox 17 Nashville
Comments
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Wouldn’t have happened if the greedy corrupt bums would get back to work.
The only ones that are greedy is GM’s upper management. I am sure many could make an argument that there are all of bums in the confines of the Ren Cen.
How could you laugh at something like that Bob .. then proudly display your ugly ignorance to others? ??
bums huh!!!! what you do for a living… sit on your butt and down hard workers. or a little rich crybaby that don’t have to do anything! grow up Bob. I hope the van driver gets charged with attempted murder!!!!!!!
So he spent his whole life spending his GM paychecks on cigarettes, which caused him to have 11 heart attacks and he was saved from death each time in the hospital using his GM health insurance. This guy has cost society literally millions of dollars already. I feel bad that this happened, but lets not obfuscate the issues here. GM has a very expensive payroll, and this particular worker is a prime example of that. Sky high insurance costs because the workers are blue collar and smoke/drink their way into retirement. Sorry…..but I hate it when people expect society and their employer to fund their unhealthy existence.
And I am sure nonunion white collar office types NEVER smoke or drink away their health.
You may be technically correct Brian in this particular instance but these things happen to everyone. Those who don’t drink, those who don’t smoke, we can all end up in the E.R. at any moment in life for a thousand different things. A few nights in the hospital these days can literally bankrupt most American families. I tend to be a conservative voter but U.S. healthcare needs a radical overhaul.
Our family was talking about healthcare the other day. It cost my grandparents (no insurance for this) a little over 100 dollars in medical bills when my mom was born. Yes, $100. When I was born it cost my parents around 2 grand. Now it costs well over 30 grand yet not a damn thing has changed in how a child is born. Insurance companies get billed by hospitals ridiculous of money for even the simplest things such as a simple flu shot. This in turn is driving our costs continually higher. I know good health care doesn’t come for free but the American public really is getting hosed.
The UAW really needs to balance their fight though if they want to keep public support for future generations. I know strong UAW supporters who think the rejection of GM’s offer was foolish and greed driven. This is making them look bad more so than GM.
death panels!!!! death panels!!!! death panels!!!! death panels!!!!
When the strike ends, who will be paying this guys healthcare costs? GM or the UAW?
GM
Tigger your wrong: when GM & UAW pulled health coverage; they pulled it from people (on-the-clock); the folks on-the-clock who walk-out 2 strike will be penalized! The driver did not agree w/the picketiers; & blocked that person from going where they wanted. So who ever got in the way; it was their own knuckle-head fault!!
Yes the real story is a heart transplant costs six million dollars. That’s supposedly okay? That’s what happens when big business runs rampant. Corporations wouldn’t have to try to pass healthcare costs on to the employees if they would get this under control. Absolutely insane what the healthcare system thinks is acceptable. Also I hope the rest of the picketers beat the hell out of the driver of the van.
The truth is no one will pay $6 million.
These deals are negotiated and the price is still too high but no one will pay that much. I used to work in the medical field and no one was turned away and no one payed the full bill.
Insurance companies negotiate the charges. If not insure most gets written off. My buddy just heart surgery and no insurance. $24k cash and the remains six figures were written off.
As for the. For this case the union covers him now as that is what happens when the contract is expired and they walk out. They pay dues and this is how they collect.
The bottom line is GM is cutting cost and the union can work with them or lose more jobs. Even taking cut they will be doing better than most. If not happy with the pay then go back to school and get a over paid medical job or go into politics.
I am not really what to think of this strike. On one hand I think the workers are paid well for the job they do but perhaps I do not know all the facts. However, I do not agree with blocking traffic or allowing people to enter the building. Getting in front of a car while moving what do you expect to happen?
Anyway – I hope the strike ends soon but I really think it will be a long one…2 months or more.
The bottom line here is unless you have been there done that and got the T-shirt you need to keep your nose out of it. Union, nonunion we are all trying to work and make a decent living. These car companies supported the United States during the wars. The bums you are calling these people go out into the community and help support the elderly and fill stockings at Christmas and donate their time and money to food pantries and grow community gardens and hold food and clothing drives for the needy. They build wheel chair ramps they cover windows they help make sure the people in need have the basic things our own government doesn’t feel the need to do. Don’t pass judgement, show your support because some day one of these bums as you call them may be the person that helps you or someone you know. There isn’t that many good paying jobs left in this country unless it’s government or in the medical field. Support your neighbor don’t criticize them.
Its terrible that this happened, but I have to say it was their own fault for stepping in front of a moving vehicle. No one forced them to block the entrances of the plants from people who still have to work to make a living. If you want to strike for your benefits that’s fine, but its NOT okay to block other people who aren’t involved in your union from being able to earn their paychecks and support their families.