The United Auto Workers will announce another strike expansion on Friday if negotiations with the big three carmakers show no progress.
Members will get an update on contract talks from UAW President Shawn Fain at 10 a.m. Friday.
The UAW has instituted a targeted strike strategy, with only a fraction of members affected. When the strike started Sept. 15, UAW workers walked off the job at three factories in Wayne, Michigan; Wentzville Missouri; and Toledo, Ohio, with just over 13,000 of the 150,000 UAW members joining the picket lines.
Last week, after contract talks with General Motors and Jeep manufacturer Stellantis remained stagnant, Mr. Fain announced an expansion of the strike. The UAW added 38 GM and Stellantis parts distribution factories to the list of struck facilities, putting more pressure on the two companies.
The union decided against expanding the strike at Ford after Mr. Fain said the firm was “very serious” about finding a deal.
But Ford may see more of its factories struck this week after the union expressed anger at the company’s decision to pause construction on an electric vehicle battery plant. Mr. Fain said the decision was a thinly veiled threat to cut union jobs amid the strike.
If the strike does expand on Friday, it will add more pressure on the automakers to make a deal. UAW leadership is demanding a 40% pay increase, the reintroduction of pension plans and a reduced workweek. The companies have said the demands are too high and would make it impossible for them to be competitive.
• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.
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