By TOM KRISHER and DAVID KOENIG (AP Auto Writers)<\/p>\n
DETROIT (AP) — The United Auto Workers union says it will go on strike at three vehicle assembly plants as it presses Detroit companies to come up with better wage and benefit offers.<\/p>\n
The factories include a General Motors assembly plant in Wentzville, Missouri, a Ford factory in Wayne Michigan, near Detroit, and a Stellantis Jeep plant in Toledo, Ohio.<\/p>\n
Contracts between 146,000 auto workers and the companies are set to expire at 11:59 p.m. Thursday. Workers will stay on the job at all other plants.<\/p>\n
“Time is of the essence,” union President Shawn Fain told workers late Thursday in an online address less than two hours before the deadline.<\/p>\n
Despite increased offers from Ford and GM, it appears that no deals will be reached before the contacts expire.<\/p>\n
Fain said for the first time in the union’s 88-year history, the UAW will strike at all three companies at the same time.<\/p>\n
About 13,000 workers at the three plants are preparing to walk off the job after contracts with the Detroit Three expire at 11:59 p.m.<\/p>\n
Fain has said more walkouts could be scheduled if companies don’t move on bargaining. <\/p>\n
The union has a list of demands including 36% pay raises over four years, cost of living raises, and an end to different tiers of wages for workers. Ford and GM are offering 20% during the next contract while Stellantis’ last known offer was 17.5%.<\/p>\n
The companies say the union hasn’t responded to their latest offers and have called union demands unreasonable. They fear taking on increased costs at a time when they have to spend billions to develop and build new electric vehicles, while also making automobiles with internal combustion engines.<\/p>\n
The Ford plant that’s targeted employs about 4,600 workers and makes Bronco SUVs and Ranger midsize pickup trucks.<\/p>\n
The Toledo Jeep complex has about 4,200 workers and manufactures the Jeep Wrangler SUV and Gladiator pickup.<\/p>\n
GM’s Wentzville plant has about 4,100 workers and makes the GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado midsize pickups, as well as the GMC Savana and Chevrolet Express full-size vans.<\/p>\n