DETROIT | The United Auto Workers union has picked General Motors Corp. as the lead company and potential strike target in contract negotiations with the Detroit Three, a local union official said Thursday.
The official, who requested anonymity because the talks are private, said his local received notice Thursday afternoon that GM would be the lead.
Contracts between the UAW and GM, Chrysler LLC and Ford Motor Co. expire at midnight Friday.
Normally, the union negotiates an agreement with the lead company, which becomes the pattern for the other two. Contracts usually are extended beyond the deadline for companies other than the lead.
Ford spokeswoman Marcey Evans confirmed that Ford had agreed to a contract extension, but a Chrysler spokesman would not comment.
"UAW and Ford have agreed to continue bargaining past the expiration of our current contract. We're going to continue to work together," Evans said.
