JANESVILLE, Wis. -- Negotiations are expected to resume Tuesday between General Motors and United Auto Workers officials as a nationwide strike continues.

VIDEO: Workers Take To Picket Line | VIDEO: Hundreds Of Statewide Suppliers Affected By GM Strike | TALKBACK: What Do You Think?

About 73,000 GM workers left the assembly line for the picket line on Monday, including 2,800 workers at GM's Janesville plant, WISC-TV reported.

For three weeks, UAW International and GM negotiators have been trying to find common ground on key issues, including job security and health benefits. However, a last-minute effort to reach a deal broke this weekend and workers left the job on Monday morning after a deadline passed.

Mike Sheridan, president of UWA Local 95, said that he was surprised about the strike, but understands the necessity.

"I'm as shocked as anybody that this came to a strike," he said. "But when it comes to retiree health care, protecting our retirees and job security, we don't want to see more plants close in the United States."

The union expects to have at least 60 people picketing around the clock every day throughout the strike, WISC-TV reported.

A GM spokesman said that the Michigan-based automaker is disappointed in the union's decision to call a national strike.

A sticking point in the negotiations is benefits for current and retired employees. GM officials are trying to give the UAW responsibility over employee and retiree health care, but this is an idea employees are clearly against. One of the proposals is to scale back benefits, including those for retirees, WISC-TV reported.

The UAW hasn't called a nationwide strike during contract negotiations since 1976, when Ford plants were shut down. The 1976 strike didn't last a week, WISC-TV reported. There were strikes at two GM plants during contract negotiations in 1996.

WISC-TV auto expert Matt Joseph said that he expects a short strike because GM inventory will keep the automaker from suffering and the strike actually is more costly to the union. He said that both sides have a common goal.

"Everyone has the same interest in the domestic industry to keep it rolling, to keep it competitive as possible with the other companies that they have to deal with," Joseph said. "So I think everybody has the same interest in settling this and getting back to work."

Joseph said that he thinks the decision to strike by the UAW was largely a symbolic gesture.

Strike Could Affect Rock County Businesses

Meanwhile, many businesses around Rock County have expressed concern about the impact the GM strike could have on the local economy.

Janesville resident Steve Flood, who retired from GM eight years ago, said that he understands the union's decision to call a strike.

"These jobs are good jobs, worth fighting for," Flood said.

Flood, 60, is among nearly dozens of other retirees who also are part of the national strike. About 340,000 retirees could be affected as the union and GM negotiate an agreement.

"You know, it's our company too," he said. "You know, I worked at General Motors for 34 years. A lot blood sweat and tears went into that company."

Flood started at the Janesville plant in 1965 making chasses for the Chevy Impala. Five years later, he joined the last large GM strike. He and his fellow employees rode the ups and downs of the automotive giant in the last few decades.

Flood said that his main concern is job security for the workers.

"I fear if they have an agreement here that doesn't keep our plant in Janesville, that that's going to have a devastating effect on this community and this state," he said.

Flood said that he's willing to make more concessions to help control GM's health care costs, but he wants the union to get protection for plants like Janesville's in return.

Officials said that the automotive industry represents 5 to 7 percent of Rock County's employment, WISC-TV reported

About 20 to 25 local suppliers to the Janesville plant said that they hope for a swift resolution to the strike. About 2,000 to 4,000 workers outside the plant are directly dependent on the Janesville operation.

John Beckford, the executive director of economic development group, Forward Janesville, said that many are optimistic a deal will be reached soon.

"I think initially there's hopefulness and I don't think the impact is going to be all that strong," he said. "Outside two weeks though, I think people will start reevaluating this, but again our expectation is it won't last that long."

Some auto industry analysts predict a short strike, one that last weeks instead of months, WISC-TV reported.

Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.