LOUISVILLE, Ky. — On the picket line outside the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, true camaraderie amongst workers who have been on strike for nearly 24 hours.
The national United Auto Workers (UAW) union told workers to "stand up" and strike late Wednesday evening.
Ford's KTP is the automaker's largest facility in the world. Thousands stood firm outside the facility on Thursday.
UAW members were joined by Teamsters and UPS, all who said they are in this fight for the long haul.
"It's time for a fair offer and the right offer," Joe Harlow said. "Not just any offer."
Harlow was one of the 8,700 Ford workers who walked off the job on Wednesday.
The group joined the strike after Local 862 President Todd Dunn got a call from Shawn Fain, the national president of the UAW.
Union members originally practiced a picket line back in August for better pay and benefits. Now, bargaining member David Firkins said Ford employees are at the forefront and are looking for concessions given up in 2008.
Firkins said he doesn't know how ong negotiations will take, but until then, he and many others will remain on the front lines.
"If it's raining, snowing, sleeting, flooding -- some strange reason we have a hurricane -- we're going to be out here," he said. "We're going to take what they owe us and I'm proud of every single one of you."
Workers plan to strike outside the facility until the sun goes down. The UAW will continue switching out strike groups Friday morning.
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