Sept 14 (Reuters) - A first-ever simultaneous strike at the Detroit Three carmakers by the United Auto Workers grew all but certain on Thursday with little progress reported in talks hours before a contract deadline expires.
The union - which represents 146,000 U.S. auto workers - is asking for 40% pay raises through September 2027 and major improvements in benefits as part of what it calls "audacious" demands.
The UAW has outlined plans for a series of strikes targeting individual, undisclosed U.S. auto plants if agreements are not reached by 11:59 pm ET Thursday, rather than a full walkout. The union plans to disclose the initial plants during a 10 p.m. ET event.
Feeling very 
right now.
I am unfortunately not working in a union shop, however, there's a good chance that this could have enough ripple effects that we couldn't even actually sell/ship product to anybody even if we wanted to. Management seems very nervous about this strike going through, and I'm positively giddy.
