Union car and truck workers walk off the job at three plants, as contract negotiations

continue.

I'm David Brancaccio.

Members of the United Auto Workers' Union started a limited strike last night against

GM, Ford and Stellantis.

It's the first time unionized auto workers have walked off the job at all three companies

at once, reflecting the high stakes automakers say they're on a fight for survival, as the

industry electrifies workers want to reverse wage and benefit concessions, at a time the

labor market is strong, marketplaces know of a suffer reports.

Less than 10% of UAW members walked off the job last night, but union president Sean

Fein said the strike could spread.

This is our generation's defining moment.

The money is there, the cause is righteous, the world is watching, and the UAW is ready

to stand up.

The union wants pay increases of 36% over four years, and it wants to reverse concessions

over pensions and pay made during the Great Recession.

In the first half of this year, the Detroit 3 made a combined $21 billion in profits,

but auto makers say the workers' demands are unaffordable because they must invest in

electrification.

Here's GM CEO Mary Barra in a company video.

If we don't continue to invest, we will lose ground, and it will happen fast.

Our competition across the country and around the world, most of whom are non-union, will

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