The UAW initiates a strike against the major three automakers.

A union representing nearly 150,000 autoworkers launched a strike against the Big 3 U.S. automakers – General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis – early Friday morning.

The United Auto Workers (UAW) commenced the strike after failing to reach a contract agreement with the car manufacturers before the union’s set deadline on Thursday at 11:59 p.m. ET. UAW President Shawn Fain announced the plants where union members would strike if a tentative agreement wasn’t reached in time, affecting approximately 12,700 union workers by midnight Friday. This included workers at GM in Wentzville, Missouri; Stellantis in Toledo, Ohio; and Ford’s Wayne, Michigan plant.

The strike is referred to as a “stand-up” strike, where not all union members strike simultaneously. Shortly after the strike was announced, Fain sent a message to the UAW’s email list, emphasizing the significance of the moment for the working class and their commitment to standing up for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Stellantis expressed disappointment over the failure to reach an agreement, stating they would take necessary measures to protect their North American operations and the company.

Earlier on Thursday, the UAW and the automakers had significant differences on key issues, including wage increases and the workweek’s length. The union demanded a 46% pay increase over the four-year duration of the new contract and a 32-hour workweek at 40-hour pay. General Motors and Ford offered a 20% pay increase over the agreement’s life, while Stellantis proposed a total 17.5% pay increase. All three companies maintained a 40-hour workweek.

Ford, in a statement, noted that the UAW’s counterproposal received on Thursday evening showed little movement from the union’s initial demands submitted on August 3. The company expressed its commitment to reaching an agreement that benefits employees and supports Ford’s investment in the future, highlighting the potential far-reaching consequences of a strike on their business and the economy during a transformative period.