(Reuters) -Over 600 workers of the United Auto Workers union at GE Aerospace's Evendale, Ohio, plant and Erlanger, Kentucky, distribution facility went on strike on Thursday after failing to reach a new contract agreement, UAW President Shawn Fain said.

The Evendale plant builds marine and industrial engines for the U.S. Navy, while the Erlanger facility supplies parts to some of the company's engine plants.

The strike marks the latest flashpoint in a wave of labor unrest sweeping through aerospace and aviation industries, where unions have been flexing their muscles to secure new contracts amid high demand for skilled workers.

From airline pilots and flight attendants to machinists and aerospace engineers, workers across the sector have pressed for higher pay and stronger job protectio

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