UAW on strike as contracts expire with Big Three automakers

DETROIT – NOTE: The live updates on this page have ended for the night.

The contracts between the United Auto Workers union and Detroit’s Big Three automakers expired at midnight, and the strike has officially begun.

• The two sides did not come to an agreement before 11:59 p.m. Thursday, so autoworkers have started to strike at three plants.
• This is the first time in history that a nationwide UAW strike is called simultaneously at General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis.
• About 146,000 autoworkers are represented by the union.
• UAW President Shawn Fain wants better pay, benefits, and work-life balance for workers.

Earlier this month, the UAW filed unfair labor practice charges against Stellantis and GM, accusing them of intentionally delaying the bargaining process. Both automakers called the allegations surprising and untrue, but both promised to provide counter proposals after the allegations were made.

The UAW has since received counter offers from all three companies, but has turned each of them down. Autoworkers have voted to authorize a strike if leaders decide to call one.

UAW President Shawn Fain spoke talks strike

Debbie Dingell speaks on economic impact of the strike

Follow along with our live updates through the day Thursday as the deadline nears.

Official release from UAW

12:32 a.m. Friday

Here is the full officially announcement from UAW after the strike deadline passed:

As of midnight, September 15, without a fair contract offer on the table, the UAW has launched a Stand Up Strike at Ford, GM, and Stellantis. It is the first time in industry history that the union has struck all of the Big Three at once.

Using a new strike strategy dubbed the Stand Up Strike, autoworkers have walked out on strike at three target facilities to win a fair contract at the Big Three. The union presented its Members Demands to the Big Three automakers over a month ago. The companies squandered the time before this evening’s deadline, failing to present an equitable offer.

In a Facebook Live address carried by major news networks, UAW President Shawn Fain announced:

“Tonight at midnight, GM Wentzville Assembly, Local 2250 in Region 4; Stellantis Toledo Assembly Complex, Local 12 in Region 2B; and Ford Michigan Assembly Plant – Final Assembly and Paint only, Local 900 in Region 1A will STAND UP and walk out on strike. The rest of us will keep organizing and support them on the picket line.”

Tonight, President Fain will join UAW members on the picket line at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan.

Tomorrow, Friday, September 15 at 4pm, UAW members and allies will join a UAW Rally to Save the American Dream in downtown Detroit at the UAW-Ford Joint Trust Building, 151 W. Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, Michigan.

United Auto Workers

Peters stands with UAW workers

• 12:28 a.m. Friday

Sen. Gary Peters released a statement after the beginning of the strike:

“I stand in solidarity with UAW workers as they strike to fight for a contract that gives them the wages, job security, and benefits they deserve. UAW members made huge sacrifices to help save the auto industry in 2008 and now that the Big Three are making historic profits, the workers deserve to get their fair share of the success. UAW workers are making the best cars in the world in Michigan and it’s critical they continue to be the future of the industry, especially as we transition to electric vehicles.”

Stabenow: ‘I stand with the UAW’

• 12:23 a.m. Friday

Sen. Debbie Stabenow released the following statement on the strike:

“Our autoworkers are the backbone of the industry. They helped build the middle class in our country and keep our economy strong. They deserve just pay and benefits, job security, and the commitment to be treated as equal partners with our auto companies as they lead the new clean energy economy. I stand with the UAW.”

General Motors statement

• 12:12 a.m. Friday

General Motors released the following statement after the strike deadline passed:

“The UAW has informed GM that they are on strike at Wentzville Assembly in Missouri as of 11:59 p.m. We are disappointed by the UAW leadership’s actions, despite the unprecedented economic package GM put on the table, including historic wage increases and manufacturing commitments. We will continue to bargain in good faith with the union to reach an agreement as quickly as possible for the benefit of our team members, customers, suppliers and communities across the U.S. In the meantime, our priority is the safety of our workforce.”

UAW officially announces strike

• 12:02 a.m. Friday

The UAW officially announced a strike against all three Big Three automakers at midnight Thursday into Friday.

Stellantis reaches midnight statement

• 12:01 a.m. Friday

Here is a statement sent out by Stellantis immediately after the 11:59 p.m. deadline passed:

“We are extremely disappointed by the UAW leadership’s refusal to engage in a responsible manner to reach a fair agreement in the best interest of our employees, their families and our customers. We immediately put the Company in contingency mode and will take all the appropriate structural decisions to protect our North American operations and the company.”

Final minutes tick down

• 11:50 p.m. Thursday

Only 10 minutes remain until midnight, and there’s no sign yet of a miraculous progression in talks between the UAW and automakers.

Once the 11:59 p.m. deadline passes, the first-ever strike involving each of the Big Three will begin.

Stand up strike aims to create leverage

• 11:27 p.m. Thursday

The strategy behind the “stand up” strike is to keep the three companies guessing and give the UAW maximum negotiating leverage, Fain said.

He doesn’t want Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis to know which plants will have walkouts next. This allows the UAW to be strategic about which locations to target.

Strike begins in 1 hour

• 11 p.m. Thursday

Barring a last-minute agreement, the UAW strike will begin in one hour.

Fain has made it clear that the UAW views 11:59 p.m. as a strict deadline for new deals to get done. Based on the tone from both sides in the hours leading up to that deadline, a deal is not close.

When midnight arrives, workers at three plants are expected to stand up and walk out.

Watch Fain’s full comments

• 10:48 p.m. Thursday

Fain spoke for several minutes during a Facebook Live that began just after 10 p.m. Thursday.

He outlined the first plans for the strike, and talked to workers who aren’t being called upon to walk out during the first stage.

You can watch his entire update below.

Ford: ‘First substantive counterproposal’ from UAW

• 10:35 p.m. Thursday

Shortly after Fain begin speaking live on Facebook, Ford sent out a release saying it received the “first substantive counterproposal” from the UAW around 8 p.m. Thursday.

Ford said the UAW’s counterproposal “showed little movement from the union’s initial demands submitted Aug. 3. If implemented, the proposal would more than double Ford’s current UAW-related labor costs, which are already significantly higher than the labor costs of Tesla, Toyota and other foreign-owned automakers in the United States that utilize non-union-represented labor.”

You can read the full release from Ford below.

At 8 p.m. this evening at Solidarity House in Detroit, the United Auto Workers presented its first substantive counterproposal to Ford a few hours from the expiration of the current four-year collective bargain agreement.

On the key economic issues that matter most to our UAW-represented employees, Ford has submitted four proposals to the UAW since Aug. 29. The last offer Ford submitted was historically generous, with large wage increases, cost of living adjustments, more paid time off, additional retirement contributions and more.

Unfortunately, the UAW’s counterproposal tonight showed little movement from the union’s initial demands submitted Aug. 3. If implemented, the proposal would more than double Ford’s current UAW-related labor costs, which are already significantly higher than the labor costs of Tesla, Toyota and other foreign-owned automakers in the United States that utilize non-union-represented labor.

The union made clear that unless we agreed to its unsustainable terms, it plans a work stoppage at 11:59 p.m. eastern. Ford has bargained in good faith in an effort to avoid a strike, which could have wide-ranging consequences for our business and the economy. It also impacts the very 57,000 UAW-Ford workers we are trying to reward with this contract. Our hourly employees would take home nearly 60% less on average with UAW strike pay than they would from working. And without vehicles in production, the profit-sharing checks that UAW workers could expect to receive early next year will also be decimated by a significant strike.

Ford remains absolutely committed to reaching an agreement that rewards our employees and protects Ford’s ability to invest in the future as we move through industry-wide transformation.

Ford Motor Company

Fain calls on workers at 3 plants to strike at midnight

• 10:22 p.m. Thursday

Fain said if a deal is not reached by midnight, workers at GM Wentzville Assembly, the Stellantis Toledo Assembly Complex, and the Ford Michigan Assembly Plant (final assembly and paint only) are asked to strike.

“These three units are being called to stand up and walk out on strike at midnight tonight,” Fain said.

The remaining UAW workers are being directed to continue working under an expired agreement. There will be no contract extension.

Fain said those who continue working cannot be fired or disciplined without reason. Management can’t change the terms and conditions of work in their plants.

Fain: ‘For the first time, we will strike all three of the Big Three at once’

• 10:12 p.m. Thursday

Fain went on Facebook Live two hours before the deadline and declared that the UAW will strike all three of the Big Three automakers at once for the first time in history.

“We’ve been working hard to try to reach a deal for economic and social justice for our workers,” Fain said. “UAW family, that deadline is nearly here. Tonight, for the first time in our history, we will strike all three of the Big Three at once. We are using a new strategy: the Stand Up strike.”

Fain prepares to announce strike plans live

• 9:50 p.m. Thursday

As the two-hour mark before the strike deadline nears, the UAW president is set to announce his strike plans live on Facebook.

Fain all but stated that the “Stand Up Announcement” will effectively end negotiations ahead of the deadline. He planned to outline what the strike plan is, what plants may or may not shut down because of that, and what the plan is moving forward.

You can watch his announcement live on Local 4 News, or online by clicking here.

Haley Stevens: ‘I have your back’

• 9:39 p.m. Thursday

Michigan Rep. Haley Stevens took the floor Thursday and said she stands with UAW workers as the strike deadline approaches.

Here’s the full video:

Meet couple facing double impact of UAW strike

• 9:22 p.m. Thursday

About 146,000 UAW workers are preparing for a possible strike at midnight, but the ramifications could be even more severe for one Metro Detroit couple.

Imagine you work for Blue Cross Blue Shield -- which saw more than 1,000 workers represented by UAW go on strike Wednesday -- and your spouse is an auto worker. That’s the case for this family:

UAW offers advice for working without contract

• 9:07 p.m. Thursday

UAW officials posted a video with information for members who might have to work without a contract.

“When the contract expires, the company may not legally change terms and conditions of employment, except that it no longer must arbitrate disputes,” the post says.

“No arbitration” is shown in bold lettering. Workers are advised to “protect themselves from discipline.”

Carefully follow all standard operating procedures, safety policies, and supervisor instructions, the post says.

Workers should call for a committee member if they are disciplined or asked to do work they are not trained to do or that’s unsafe, the UAW says.

GM reveals latest offer to UAW

• 8:51 p.m. Thursday

General Motors released a statement to workers, saying “we’re at a crossroads” in terms of sustainability as a company.

GM also outlined its latest offer to the UAW.

Click here to view the full statement.

Auto analyst talks high stakes of negotiations

• 8:31 p.m. Thursday

Auto analyst John McElroy joined Local 4 for an extensive interview about the stakes of the UAW-Big Three negotiations.

You can watch the entire interview here:

Which medical benefits are covered during strike?

• 8:16 p.m. Thursday

The UAW strike and defense fund covers medical benefits and prescription drugs. They’re paid either directly by the fund or by having the fund make COBRA payments to the company plan.

Benefits that aren’t covered include dental, vision, hearing, sick, and accident benefits.

Stevens supports autoworkers

• 7:51 p.m. Thursday

Michigan Rep. Haley Stevens tweeted her support of the UAW less than 10 hours before the strike deadline.

“Deal workers in,” she posted. “Record profits should mean a record contract for UAW workers. If you can give shareholders a share, you can give workers a share”

Clock continues to tick toward strike

• 7:31 p.m. Thursday

Rod Meloni had a live report less than six hours before the UAW strike deadline. You can watch it below:

UAW responds to Ford CEO’s comments

• 7:19 p.m. Thursday

The UAW responded to Ford CEO Jim Farley’s comments on CNBC Overtime (full quote below).

“This man made $21 million last year,” the UAW posted on Twitter.

One of the primary arguments for the UAW throughout negotiations centers around how much executives are making at the Big Three. The union wants its workers to see some of the profits.

Ford CEO: ‘You want us to choose bankruptcy?’

• 7:03 p.m. Thursday

Ford CEO Jim Farley spoke to CNBC Overtime and sounded exasperated about the state of negotiations.

“If we signed up for the UAW’s request, instead of making money and distributing $75,000 in profit sharing in the last 10 years, we would have lost $15 billion and gone bankrupt by now,” Farley said. “The average pay would be nearly $300,000 fully fringed for a four-day workweek. Per employee.”

He said this would mean UAW workers make as much as six times more than fully tenured teachers, military members, and firefighters.

“There’s no way we can be sustainable as a company,” Farley said. “That’s why we put our proposal in two weeks ago to say, ‘Look, you want us to choose bankruptcy over supporting our workers?’ Here’s our proposal. Let’s work through this. We’ve heard nothing.”

Hear from UAW members as they brace for strike

• 6:48 p.m. Thursday

Shawn Ley spoke with UAW members who might be just hours away from losing pay with no scheduled end in sight.

“The members are kind of anxious,” one worker told Local 4. “Some want to go on strike, some don’t want to go to strike. But for the majority of the membership here, we’re ready to do what it takes to get what we deserve.”

Hear more in Shawn’s full story below:

Ford won’t support 4-day workweek

• 6:21 p.m. Thursday

Ford CEO Jim Farley shot down the possibility of the company agreeing to a four-day workweek.

“We’re absolutely ready for a strike, and I know the UAW is, too, but we don’t want it to come to a strike,” Farley said. “A four-day workweek is not containable. We’re literally fighting for the future of automotive manufacturing in our country.

“We’re not going to support a four-day workweek.”

Live update from UAW Solidarity House

• 5:59 p.m. Thursday

Rod Meloni was live from Solidarity House with an update on how talks are going.

What about union workers who aren’t called upon to strike?

• 5:54 p.m. Thursday

Union members whose locals aren’t called to strike are advised to keep working. Their contracts will not be extended, which means they’ll work under an expired agreement.

There are special rules for that working arrangement, and also rights against certain changes made by management.

Click here to view a full rundown of how to work under an expired agreement.

Gov. Whitmer discusses negotiations

• 5:41 p.m. Thursday

As the clock ticks toward a potentially historic strike, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer shared her thoughts on the situation.

“W’ere building the center of the auto industry as this incredible transition is happening here,” Whitmer said. “It’s important that workers have a good contract, but also critical that the Big Three can continue doing the work that they’re doing.”

Here’s what Shawn Ley is hearing

• 5:27 p.m. Thursday

Here’s what Shawn Ley is hearing less than seven hours before the strike deadline, including what a 29-year worker’s gut is telling him:

UAW explains 10 p.m. live stream

• 5:17 p.m. Thursday

The UAW sent a release to explain what we should expect during the 10 p.m. Facebook Live stream.

Here’s the full release:

UAW President Shawn Fain will hold a special 10 p.m. EST Facebook Live meeting to announce the union’s Stand Up plans. The announcement comes just two hours before the expiration of the union’s contracts with Ford, General Motors and Stellantis.

Fain has called the 11:59 p.m. expiration “a deadline, not a reference point.” He announced the union’s Stand Up Strike strategy last night in case the companies fail to offer fair contracts to the UAW’s 150,000 autoworkers.

The union launched the strategy with a new video, new webpage, and educational materials for members and the public. The Stand Up Strike will target a to-be-determined number of facilities to walk out on strike at midnight tonight, if necessary. As time goes on, the strike will expand to more facilities to be announced as needed.

If all three companies fail to come to an agreement, it will be the first time in history that the UAW has struck all Big Three automakers simultaneously.

United Auto Workers release

Counting down to possible strike

• 5:10 p.m. Thursday

Rod Meloni reports on the strike from Detroit’s east side:

How workers will know if their local is on strike

• 4:56 p.m. Thursday

How do workers know if their local is going on strike?

The national leadership will talk to regional and local leaders, and those leaders will walk members off the job when it’s time to strike.

“This will be very clear, and communicated from national to regional to local leadership, and announced to our membership list shortly before we announce new targets publicly,” the UAW explainer says.

Workers are asked to follow the lead of their local leadership.

Workers brace for coming days

• 4:41 p.m. Thursday

Just hours before the strike deadline, UAW members are bracing for what could be some rocky days in the near future. During the strike, workers could lose significant income without knowing for sure when it will come back.

“Some are anxious,” said Donald Foster, a Stellantis Jefferson North Assembly Plant employee. “Some want want to go on strike. Some do not want to go on strike. But we have to be ready to get what we deserve.”

Foster has spent almost 30 years as a repair tech. He’s seen some job actions, but nothing like what could happen when this contract expires.

“I am 50/50 if it is going to happen,” Foster said. “If it does, it is because these folks believe in staying together and fighting for better pay.”

UAW announces Facebook Live with Fain

• 4:28 p.m. Thursday

The UAW announced Fain will host a Facebook Live event at 10 p.m. Thursday.

The stream is being called a “Stand Up Announcement.” Fain previously said 10 p.m. is when the union would announce its strike plans, effectively ending negotiations ahead of the deadline.

Can striking workers have another job?

• 4:15 p.m. Thursday

Striking workers can get another job during the strike, but if they’re receiving gross pay equal or greater to the amount of their weekly strike assistance ($500), then they won’t receive weekly benefits.

However, workers in that position will continue to receive medical and prescription drug assistance from the UAW.

UAW reveals dos and don’ts for working without contract

• 4:02 p.m. Thursday

UAW officials released a list of “dos and don’ts” for working without a contract.

Members were told to do the following:

• Report any changes in your terms and conditions of employment to their committee person.
• Refuse voluntary overtime.
• Attend their local union meetings.
• Contact their committee person with any questions/issues.

Members were told not to do the following:

• Work more slowly or refuse to do any job duties.
• Confront, argue, or threaten anyone if there is a dispute.
• Damage company property.

Rep. Slotkin on what strike could do to Michigan

• 3:48 p.m. Thursday

Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin spoke about the possibility of a UAW strike and what that could do to Michigan’s economy.

“I think the truth is we knew that it was going to be an exciting September,” Slotkin said. “It is an exciting September. No one wants a long strike. We know what that does to Michigan. We know what that does to individuals working at these facilities and the rest of the countries.

“As someone who used to negotiate international agreements: You set the state for these negotiations in the weeks ahead of it, and that’s what’s happened.”

Map shows plants that might strike

• 3:31 p.m. Thursday

The UAW reposted a Labor Notes breakdown of how to stand with striking UAW workers, and that included a map that shows all the Ford, GM, and Stellantis workplaces that might strike.

The map includes assembly plants and parts distribution centers all over the country.

Click here to check out the map.

Automakers warn expensive agreement could give foreign competitors leg up

• 3:14 p.m. Thursday

UAW leadership has pointed to increased profits at the Big Three as a reason workers deserve a 36% pay raise. But automakers contend they need to make massive investments in the near future.

Among those investments are the abilities to develop and build electric vehicles while continuing to engineer internal combustion vehicles.

Automakers said an expensive labor agreement could create costs that force price hikes above those of non-union foreign competitors.

What about plant workers where there isn’t a strike?

• 3:01 p.m. Thursday

Auto reporter Phil LeBeau spoke to Local 4 about plant workers in places where there isn’t a strike. How could a UAW strike affect their lives?

“All UAW workers realize that, A: If their plant goes on strike, or if they go on strike at their plant, they’re now getting $500 a week. They’ll also have their health insurance covered by the UAW, but it’s clearly not going to replace the take-home pay that they get for their job every two weeks.

“For the people who are at plants where there’s not a strike, they likely will face being laid off at some point. If the production is not there, let’s say for engines and transmissions, final assembly won’t be there. At some point, the automakers have to make a decision: Do we lay off these workers?

“It doesn’t mean they lose their job permanently, but then you go into the realm of, ‘OK, now I have to get unemployment insurance through the state.’”

UAW rips Stellantis stock buybacks

• 2:49 p.m. Thursday

The UAW posted on Twitter Thursday afternoon, ripping Stellantis for announcing stock buybacks in the hours before the strike deadline.

“Incredible. Right up to our contract deadline, Stellantis just can’t help themselves, announcing they’re executing another $500 million on stock buybacks,” the post said. “If they’ve got money for Wall Street, they sure as hell have money for the workers who make this industry run.”

Would huge pay raise lead to layoffs?

• 2:31 p.m. Thursday

We asked LeBeau whether a potential massive pay raise for autoworkers could cause layoffs to compensate for that increased cost.

“I think it depends on two questions: For the automakers, if they reach an agreement and they give, let’s say, a 25% raise -- do I think that they’re going to have to lay off workers down the road because of the increased cost? Probably not, because it depends on what happens in terms of demand and the economy overall.

“Right now, the demand for new vehicles is strong enough that they can absorb this cost. Would they rather not have much higher cost? Sure, anybody running a business would not, but it’s not going to cause them to say, ‘OK, well if we give these raises, we’re going to have to lay off X number of people.’ That’s not going to happen.”

How UAW strike could affect car prices

• 2:17 p.m. Thursday

Car prices are already high, but a strike could make things even worse. Local 4′s Hank Winchester looked into what to expect, and this is what he found.

Lots are already loaded because used car prices and higher interest rates stalled the car sales market. If the strike moves forward, production will be brought to a halt, which will hurt inventory.

Automakers will likely stop the incentive programs that may bring car buyers in, but for smaller locally owned dealers, this is an even bigger concern because used car prices won’t have anywhere to go but up.

If you’ve thought about buying, interest rates are likely going to rise, and with the threat of fewer cars coming off the line, the concerns about prices will only grow.

New statement from General Motors

• 2:08 p.m. Thursday

General Motors released an updated statement just after 2 p.m. Thursday:

“We continue to bargain directly and in good faith with the UAW and have presented additional strong offers. We are making progress in key areas that we believe are most important to our represented team members. This includes historic guaranteed annual wage increases, investments in our U.S. manufacturing plants to provide opportunities for all, and shortening the time for in-progression employees to reach maximum wages.”

Workers across country prepare to strike

• 1:55 p.m. Thursday

The UAW shared photos of workers across the country preparing for the possible strike.

Workers in Kansas City posed with stickers that say, “97% ready to strike,” referencing the August vote that showed 97% of auto workers authorized a UAW strike.

Workers in Chicago posed in a photo that the UAW captioned with, “The clock is ticking.”

Another photo showed Local 129 members standing In support of Detroit Three bargaining members in Laredo, Texas. They supply parts to the Big Three.

Teamsters stand with UAW

• 1:43 p.m. Thursday

The Teamsters union posted on Twitter that it stands with the UAW.

“The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, including our members in the car haul industry, stand in solidarity with the United Auto Workers to get the best contract possible from America’s biggest automakers,” Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien said. “Just as the Teamsters saw at UPS, record profits at any company must result in record contracts for the workers who make those profits possible.

“Ford, Stellantis, and General Motors have a choice to make about the kind of companies they want to become. Do not go down the wrong road. Do not attempt to divide or cast aside dedicated union families who have given their lives to building a resilient American auto industry. All UAW members deserve respect at work and dignity in retirement. They deserve strong wages in a new contract that rewards them for everything they do for the Big Three and to keep this country moving.

“You can be sure there is no division in America’s labor movement today. And you are urged to remember that Teamsters don’t cross picket lines.”

Fain: ‘It’s an act of faith’

• 1:38 p.m. Thursday

Fain said the UAW’s plan to strike isn’t just for autoworkers, but for the good of the entire working class.

“Making bold demands and organizing to fight for them is an act of faith,” Fain said. “It’s an act of faith in each other, and yes, these corporations are mountains, but together, we can make these mountains move. I have always believed that UAW members serve a higher power.

“We have a mission and a calling. We fight not only for the good of our union, or food the good of our members and our families -- we fight for the good of the entire working class and the poor.

“I believe great things are possible, but only if we’re able to shed our fears. The only limits we have to worry about are the limits we put on ourselves -- only if we stop letting the billionaire class define what’s possible and what’s realistic.”

How long did the last UAW strike last?

• 1:25 p.m. Thursday

In 2019, General Motors workers went on strike for several weeks, starting when the deadline passed at midnight Sept. 13 into Sept. 14.

It took until Oct. 16 for the two sides to reach a tentative agreement -- 31 days after the strike began. Members of the union began voting on the proposed dead three days later, and it was ratified on Oct. 25.

From the moment the deadline passed to the day it was ratified, the strike lasted 40 days. It is the longest automotive strike in more than 50 years.

How many UAW workers at each company?

• 1:11 p.m. Thursday

Here’s how many UAW-represented autoworkers are employed at each of the Big Three companies:

• More than 57,000 UAW workers at Ford.
• About 46,000 UAW workers at General Motors.
• About 43,000 UAW workers at Stellantis.

It’s unclear whether a strike would include all three automakers, but if it does, it will be the first time that all three are striking simultaneously.

Confidence level high among workers

• 1 p.m. Thursday

Local 4′s Shawn Ley spoke with workers, and they said their confidence level is “very high.”

A worker told Shawn that what Fain and the UAW leadership are doing is exactly what they want.

They’re staying the course, as of early Thursday morning.

Auto expert expects strike

• 12:50 p.m. Thursday

LeBeau weighed in on the current state of negotiations.

“My expectation is we see a strike come 11:59 p.m.,” LeBeau said. “I think the UAW and the Big Three are too far apart at this point to come to an agreement, and I also think that the UAW looks at this and says, ‘Look, if we go out, we send a strong message to the automakers that we need much more than what they’re offering.’”

Where negotiations stand

• 12:27 p.m. Thursday

Fain is meeting with representatives of the Big Three, but he’s making it clear that when it comes to wages, what’s good for them is good for his workers.

The bottom line is that the UAW and the Big Three came out of COVID and saw high demands, profits, and raises in the offices. Fain wants the men and women on the lines to see some of those profits.

Under 12 hours until strike deadline

• 12:05 p.m. Thursday

The time until the official strike deadline has now ticked under 12 hours, and there haven’t been any meaningful steps toward an agreement between the UAW and automakers.

How workers can receive strike pay

• 11:52 a.m. Thursday

If UAW workers go on strike, they must pick up benefits from their local union.

Bring an ID to the pickup on the assigned date. Strike pay cannot be mailed.

How does the stand up strike work?

• 11:37 a.m. Thursday

This is a new approach to striking that involves selecting certain plants and having the workers at those plants walk out on strike.

The UAW believes this type of strike will give it maximum leverage and flexibility throughout negotiations, as opposed to workers at all plants striking at once.

Workers who aren’t called upon to join the stand up strike can keep working. but they’ll do so without an agreement in place.

Will UAW strike at charity preview?

• 11:18 a.m. Thursday

Many people are wondering whether the UAW will strike outside of the charity preview on Friday night.

Members of the union said they honor and respect how much money that event raises for charities, and they don’t want to diminish those donations. They don’t plan to picket at the event.

But one hour before the charity preview, there will be picketers at the Ford UAW house, which is right next to Huntington Place.

Sense of imminent strike persists

• 11:05 a.m. Thursday

As the 12-hour mark until the deadline approaches, there’s a sense that a strike is imminent. Fain and Farley both had harsh words for their respective opposing sides, and Nick Monacelli reports the feeling around negotiations is that a strike is inevitable.

“There’s this sense of an imminent strike, almost no matter what, unless something huge happens here at Solidarity House,” Nick reports.

“I have to ask all of you: Do you have faith?” Fain asked during a message to his union workers. “Are you ready to stand up together and move that mountain?”

3 requirements to be eligible for strike benefits

• 10:58 p.m. Thursday

UAW members have to meet three requirements to be eligible for strike pay and benefits.

First, they must be in good standing on the day before the strike begins. That means they have to be current on dues and initiation feeds.

They must also be on the active payroll at the start of the strike. Members who have been laid off, who are on workers compensation, or are receiving sick and accident benefits are not eligible for strike pay.

Members must also participate in the strike through picket assignments, strike committee, or similar roles.

Temporary employees and anyone up to date on their union security obligations (including fee payers or objectors) are eligible.

Business owners brace for strike impact

• 10:44 a.m. Thursday

Metro Detroit business owners near the plants are nervous that if workers aren’t going to work, they’ll suffer, as well.

As the likelihood of a strike increases, restaurant and diner owners are afraid of how much business they’ll lose.

“There will be no business,” said Tony Bakoulas, the owner of Cozy Grill in Warren. “People will have no money to go out and have breakfast or lunch or dinner. I think it will have a big effect.”

The owner of City Burger, Abe Barjaoui, remembers how the strike in 2019 affected business.

“Forty days they were on strike -- it did affect business here,” Barjaoui said. “It was pretty slow, and then once they kind of got resolved, business started to pick up.

“It’s kind of scary for us, because we’re in the middle of everything and a lot of our business comes from these Big Three.”

Ford CEO: ‘We want to make a deal’

• 10:29 a.m. Thursday

Ford CEO Jim Farley insisted his company wants to make a deal ahead of the deadline.

“We want to build a future for our employees, and we can’t negotiate if we don’t get any feedback,” Farley said. “We’ve made four offers, and the last one is the most generous offer we’ve ever made, and it’s fully competitive with all the settlements the UAW has made with other industrial companies.

“We need feedback. We want to make a deal. If there is a strike, it won’t be because we haven’t put a great deal in front of them, because we have -- four times.”

How much is UAW strike assistance?

• 10:15 a.m. Thursday

If workers go on strike, they will receive a weekly strike assistance of $500 -- $100 per day for every weekday.

This money becomes available after the eighth day of the strike. A bonus check is sent to workers the week before Thanksgiving and Christmas.

For every weekday’s pay missed because of the strike, UAW members get one day’s worth of strike assistance at the prorated daily amount.

Workers explain top 2 concerns

• 9:58 a.m. Thursday

During an informational picketing event at the Ford Dearborn Truck Plant, workers said their two primary concerns are wages and tiers.

“It’s not acceptable to this membership to make somebody wait that works next to a person at full pay,” one worker told Local 4. “Five years -- it’s just unacceptable.”

The automakers insist they’ve made competitive offers, but the UAW has not backed down from its stance that it plans to strike at midnight.

Current Big Three offers

• 9:43 a.m. Thursday

As of Thursday morning, each of the Big Three automakers is offering a way increase, but the overall offers are not enough to interest the UAW

Ford is offering a 20% increase, GM is offering an 18% increase, and Stellantis is offering a 17.5% increase.

The automakers are also offering to end tiered wages in a four-year progression. The UAW wants it done in 90 days.

Fain’s strong message

• 9:22 a.m. Thursday

“We are preparing to strike these companies in a way they’ve never seen before.”

That’s the message from the UAW leader as the hours count down to the strike deadline. The fact that Fain has already scheduled an event to announce strike plans demonstrates how contentious these negotiations have been through Wednesday night.

Automakers said negotiations have never been as public as they are this year with Fain at the helm. That puts pressure on both sides to reach an agreement.

What we’ll find out at 10 p.m.

• 9:09 a.m. Thursday

The UAW has scheduled an event at 10 p.m. Thursday to announce some of its plans for the impending strike. But what will we actually learn at that time?

Specifically, we’ll find out what the strike plan is, what plants may or may not shut down because of that, and what the plan is moving forward.

Strike likely barring ‘big changes’

• 8:52 a.m. Thursday

Local 4′s Nick Monacelli reports a strike is looking very likely as of Thursday morning unless there are some major changes between now and the deadline.

Fain made it very clear that the strike would happen when he scheduled a 10 p.m. event to announce where workers would strike.

The automakers, on the other hand, believe they’ve made “very, very fair offers.” Ford and Stellantis said they haven’t even received counter offers from the union.

When could agreement happen Thursday?

• 8:32 a.m. Thursday

The two sides remain far apart Thursday morning, but if they did somehow come to an agreement before the deadline, experts believe it won’t be until later.

“It’ll go down to the wire, and there won’t be an agreement until the final moment, if there is one at all,” said Thomas Kochan, a professor of work and employment at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Kochan said the UAW knows its initial proposals weren’t realistic for the Big Three, but the companies know they’re going to have to make a very expensive settlement, including addressing tiered wages for people doing the same jobs.

Union would picket Friday if deals aren’t made

• 8:14 a.m. Thursday

If no deal is reached by the strike deadline, negotiating will likely be put on hold until early next week.

UAW officials said they will not bargain on Friday. Instead, they’ll join workers on picket lines, according to Fain.

It’s unclear which plants would be targeted first, as Fain believes it gives the UAW more flexibility to keep the automakers guessing.

When will we know if strike is coming?

• 7:53 a.m. Thursday

Fain said the final decision on which plants to strike won’t be made until Thursday night. He said that decision will be announced at 10 p.m.

It’s possible that all 146,000 UAW members could walk out, but the union will begin by striking at a limited number of plants.

“If the companies continue to bargain in bad faith or continue to stall or continue to give us insulting offers, then our strike is going to continue to grow,” Fain said.

He said the targeted strikes, with the threat of escalation, “will keep the companies guessing.”

The union will not extend contracts, so those who stay at work will do so with an expired agreement.

Ford CEO: No ‘genuine counter offer’

• 7:39 a.m. Thursday

Ford CEO Jim Farley said if the union strikes Ford, it’s not the company’s fault because it has made four offers and hasn’t gotten a “genuine counter offer.”

“It’s hard to negotiate a contract when there’s no one to negotiate with,” Farley said.

He said Ford has made a generous wage offer, eliminated wage tiers, restored cost of living pay increases, and increased vacation time. The union disputes his contention that tiers were ended.

“It was fully competitive with all of the UAW-negotiated settlements, sometimes after strikes, with other industrial companies -- and we heard nothing,” Farley said.

Targeted strikes planned

• 7 a.m. Thursday

UAW president Shawn Fain said it is still possible that all 146,000 UAW members could walk out, but the union will begin by striking at a limited number of plants.

Fain said the union will not extend contracts, so anyone who continues to work will do so with an expired agreement. This would be the first time in the union’s history that it struck all three companies at the same time.

Fain said an all-out strike is still possible, but the targeted strike strategy is more flexible.

2 sides remain far apart

• 6 a.m. Thursday

In an online address to union members, Fain said General Motors, Ford and Stellantis have raised their initial wage offers, but have rejected some of the union’s other demands.

As of the last update from the UAW, the two sides remain “far apart” in negotiations. As each hour passes, a strike becomes more and more likely.

24 hours until deadline

• 11:59 p.m. Wednesday

The final day of negotiations before the strike deadline has officially arrived. If the union and the automakers don’t come to an agreement before midnight Thursday into Friday, workers are expected to strike.

Automakers release statements

• 9:09 p.m. Wednesday

Each of the Big Three automakers released statements on Wednesday night ahead of the final day before the strike deadline.

Click here to read all three statements in full.

Fain: Offers from companies inadequate

• 5:46 p.m. Wednesday

About 30 hours ahead of the strike deadline, Fain said the offers from the Big Three aren’t enough and the union is getting ready to strike.

In an online address to union members, 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,” Fain said. “To win we’re likely going to have to take action. We are preparing to strike these companies in a way they’ve never seen before.”