And I'm Jeff Bennett on the news hour tonight. The United Auto workers hit the picket lines after the deadline for an agreement between the union and the nation's big three car makers expires.

The small Ohio town where a train derailed seeks answers while cleanup continues seven months later. We speak with the head of the rail company.

I'm really proud of the progress we've made. I also understand there's a lot more work to be done.

And it's Friday. David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart weigh in on mounting pensions in the House of Representatives as lawmakers launch an impeachment inquiry into President 5.

Welcome to the news hour. The United Auto workers launched a strike today. It's the first time the union started a strike by picketing against the big three automakers simultaneously.

The union under fiery new leadership has also changed its traditional approach to a walk out by starting with a shot on the production of popular truck models.

Auto makers say the workers demands will endanger their ability to compete and both sides have portrayed this battle as a critical moment because of the changing marketplace.

After weeks of stalled contract negotiations.

Nearly 13,000 auto workers walked off the job this morning saying they had no choice, but to strike.

It's hard. This is not something everybody wants to do. I don't think anybody wants to do this, but this is what we have to do. So this is what we're going to do.

The UAW strikes aimed to disrupt operations for the so called big three Detroit automakers, General Motors Ford and Stellantis, which owns Jeep and Chrysler.

Combined, they produce half of the roughly 15 million vehicles made in the US every year and employ nearly 150,000 UAW members.

But workers aren't striking on mass. The union is rolling out a new strategy, targeted strikes at a few facilities.

The first include three Midwest plants, a Ford Bronco plant in Michigan, a GM truck and van plant in Missouri, and a Stellantis Jeep plant in Ohio.

The union is asking for a 36% wage increase over four years and the restoration of some pay and benefits cuts made in the 2008 recession, including cost of living adjustments and end to a tiered wage system and changes to pension plans and retiree health care.

They're also proposing a four day work week. UAW president Sean Fain spoke at the picket line just after the work stoppage began at midnight.

It's a shame. We've got to be out here right now doing this because the companies won't take care of their workers who they want to call family.

We're not asking to be millionaires. We're not asking to join the billionaire class. We're asking for our fair share of the fruits of our labor. They deserve it.

The union says companies raked in billions in profits and worker wages have not kept up between 2013 and 2022 combined profits for the big three Ford GM and Stellantis surged 92% to $250 billion total.

President Biden today gave his support to striking workers and said he hoped for a fair agreement.

Auto companies have seen record profits, including the last few years because of the extraordinary skill and sacrifices the UAW workers.

But those record profits have not been shared fairly in my view. The companies have made some significant offers.

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