BUENA VISTA TOWNSHIP, MI -- Workers represented by the UAW at Nexteer Automotive walked off their jobs at midnight Tuesday, Dec. 8, after the union failed to reach a new contract agreement with the company.

Some of those workers appeared minutes later outside the gates of the sprawling manufacturing complex at 3900 E. Holland in Buena Vista Township. The men and women held picket signs, indicating a labor strike had begun.

Then came a flood of cars as third shift workers left the building en masse and made their way to the union hall at 1911 Bagley in Saginaw. There they were receiving assignments for picket duty.

Nexteer is a global automotive steering company that employs 12,000, including 5,000 in Michigan. More than 3,000 work at the Nexteer complex in Saginaw County. Formerly Delphi Saginaw Steering Systems, Nexteer was sold in 2010 to China-based Pacific Century Motors.

Tuesday's strike came after workers overwhelmingly voted down a proposed labor contract Sunday, Dec. 6.

Chad Arndt, a member of UAW Local 699, works second shift at Nexteer.

"The membership spoke as one," Arndt said, standing near a curb on East Holland as the third shift workers drove by and continuously honked their horns. "We voted down a contract that was unanimously not agreed upon."

Union leadership took to UAW Local 699's Facebook page at 12:01 a.m. to announce the strike.

Members of other local unions posted comments of support on the post.

"When someone is pushed to make a decision, you either have to stand up or sit down," Arndt said, as a man nearby waved an American flag.

His union, Arndt said, has chosen to stand up.

"I work with some amazing people," he said. "There are single moms in there struggling week-to-week, trying to figure out how to buy groceries."

Arndt said he is fortunate that his wife also works full time at Nexteer, meaning he lives in a two-income household, unlike some of his coworkers.

"Which makes me blessed," he said. "But also a little nervous."

Xavier Hopkins, who has worked at Nexteer since May 2010, also was picketing nearby. He called the proposed contract, which workers turned down Sunday, "a bunch of crap."

"They were trying to make us pay for our benefits," Hopkins said. "They didn't want to give more money."

Hopkins mentioned that before he saw the proposed contract, he was hoping for additional income for the holiday season. What the contract offered, he said, wasn't what UAW workers wanted for the holidays or the rest of the year.

"People want to support their families," Hopkins said.

Multiple picketers, including Arndt, mentioned they would continue to strike for "as long as it takes."

Representatives for Nexteer Automotive were not immediately available for comment. The company did issue a statement after the vote Sunday by the union to reject a tentative contract agreement.

"While this is disappointing, it is a clear message from our employees, and one we are considering as we evaluate the strategic options for the Saginaw facility," Nexteer Vice President Mark Decker said in a written statement.

UAW Local 699 on Monday, Dec. 7, posted the tentative results of the vote on its Facebook page. The outcome was 399 "no" votes to 8 "yes" votes for trade workers, and 2,704 "no" votes to 72 "yes" votes for production workers.

-- Jessica Shepherd is a reporter with MLive/The Saginaw News. Contact her at 989-996-0687, email her at jessica_shepherd@mlive.com or follow her on Twitter.