KOKOMO, Ind. — Port-a-potties and metal barrels sit outside various entrances of a Stellantis plant in Kokomo as the possibility of a strike looms.
"I try not to show it, but yeah, I'm nervous," said Stellantis employee Lisa Boyd as she giggled apprehensively.
Boyd has been working at Stellantis' casting plant for about 10 years. She said the strike isn't all about the money — but also feeling appreciated.
"Nobody wants to walk out. They don't want to strike. They don't want to have to pick up a sign and say, 'Hey, we gave up so much back in 2008 and 2009, we deserve a little bit more,'" Boyd said.
Boyd said she makes pretty good money working at Stellantis, but as a single mom, that money is stretched thin between her bills and two kids.
Going on strike, she said, would significantly reduce her weekly income to just $500.
"If we strike, Stellantis isn't even offering a lump-sum bonus, they're not offering a ratification bonus like GM and Ford have so far. They're not coming off much at all. If we were to strike, we would need that bonus for some of us to catch back up," Boyd said.
Wendy Carlson owns Nailtopia in Kokomo. She said 10% to 15% of her business comes from workers at Stellantis.
"I can honestly tell ya, I talked to a lot of women today and they're not going to stop getting their nails done. I had one even say she wouldn't put gas in her car and she will walk here to get her nails done," Carlson said.
Her customers aren't her only connections to the plant — she said her husband has worked for Chrysler for 12 years.
"He's a little anxious, just because he wants to stay working, and I'm afraid he thinks that, if they strike, it'll be for a while," Carlson said.
Boyd said, like everyone else, she's waiting to see what happens Friday.
"If they say, 'Kokomo, let's go,' we're ready ... so, we are ready," Boyd said.
As of Thursday, 18,000 UAW workers are on strike. Friday at 10 a.m., union leaders are expected to announce their next steps and if workers in Indiana will join the picket lines.