While labor talks continue in New York City, union members of UE Local 506 rallied Saturday at Gannon's Hammermill Center to voice their opinions.

They lined the streets and filled the gym to capacity. Over 3,000 wore T-shirts, waved flags and held signs showing their discontent with a possible change in health benefits. As well as a two-tier wage system, with lower wages for new employees.

"They think they can get qualified people for half the pay. A lot of other workers wouldn't leave behind what they're making now for those wages. They wouldn't get the quality they think they're going to get by going to a lower price," said John Matts.

although GE can't comment directly on the talks, they issued an update saying they need a contract that allows them to remain competitive with Caterpillar, who is building a new plant in Indiana.

Over the past six years Caterpillar has grown to more than a hundred times its size in the rail business to $3.3 billion. Caterpillar's wages have been reported as roughly half of GE Transportation's labor costs in Erie.

The company also cited increasing health care costs, as to why some unfavorable changes may need to be made in the new contract.  If if the contract negotiations go south, for some union members the worst case scenario would have them outside of GE, on strike.

"Obviously we'll strike. But we hope that doesn't happen, it's not good for the community, it's not good for us, it's not good for the company as a whole but we need to come to some kind of an agreement," said Scott Slawson.

"The worst case scenario would be that if it did implement it would destroy everything Erie as far as union goes," said Matts.

With just weeks left on the current contract, GE says they will continue to strive for a fair contract that ensures the long-term competitiveness and health of GE Transportation for many years to come to benefit customers, suppliers, employees and the community at large.