This is the week where union workers could walk out of three big car and truck companies.

I'm David Brancaccio, Detroit's big three auto makers in the union representing their workers

are now less than four days away from a strike deadline Thursday afternoon.

Contract negotiations continue.

The United Auto Workers say the union is ready to strike at all three companies, which

would be a first.

Marketplaces Nova Sofo is following this.

And David, the good news is the pace of negotiations have picked up over the last week

and a half the two sides, though, remain far apart and the UAW has rejected the latest

offers from all three auto makers, GM Ford and Stellantis.

The companies did move a bit closer to the union's demands, though.

For example, wage increase offers went up from 9% to nearly 15% over four years.

The union, though, seeking wage increases of as much as 46%, the end of two tiered

pay structures.

The unionizing of jobs at new battery plants and a number of other changes.

So the two sides, yeah, not even close to a deal yet.

In previous years, negotiations have gone to the last minute and even continued after

the contract deadline.

The union says this time around, it's prepared to strike if there's no deal by Thursday

night.

Now strikes have costs that go beyond direct effects on the companies and union workers.

That's right.

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