LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- With just over 24 hours left before a strike deadline, the United Auto Workers union remains "very far apart" in negotiations with the Detroit Three car companies and is likely to strike a handful of targeted plants starting Friday morning, UAW President Shawn Fain said Wednesday.
In an online address to members Wednesday, Fain said General Motors, Ford and Stellantis have raised their initial wage offers, but have rejected some of the union's other demands.
"We do not yet have offers on the table that reflect the sacrifices and contributions our members have made to these companies," he said. "To win we're likely doing to have to take action. We are preparing to strike these companies in a way they've never seen before."
The union is threatening to strike after contracts with companies that haven't reached an agreement by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday. It would be the first time in the union's 80-plus-year history that it struck all three companies at the same time.
Talks continued Wednesday with the companies, but it appeared that both sides are still far apart.
Automakers contend that they need to make huge investments to develop and build electric vehicles, while still building and engineering internal combustion vehicles. They say an expensive labor agreement could saddle them with costs, forcing them to raise prices higher than non-union foreign competitors.
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