As RedState previously wrote, the United Autoworkers Union called a strike against the Big Three U.S. automakers -- General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis (formerly known as Chrysler) at midnight on September 15, with a limited number of workers taking part in picket lines at several Detroit-area plants.

The UAW then expanded the walk-out to other plants. Now, the union is pulling 7,000 more workers from assembly lines at two of the companies' plants nationwide:

DETROIT (AP) — The United Auto Workers union expanded strikes against Detroit automakers Friday, ordering 7,000 more workers to walk off the job in Illinois and Michigan to put more pressure on the companies to improve their offers.

It was the second time the union has widened the walkouts, which started two weeks ago at three assembly plants before the most recent addition of a Ford plant in Chicago and a General Motors factory near Lansing.

Union President Shawn Fain told workers in a video appearance that the strikes were escalated because Ford and GM refused “to make meaningful progress” in contract talks. Jeep maker Stellantis was spared from the third round of strikes.

UAW president Fain explained in the video, posted on Facebook, why the strike was not expanded against Stellantis: 

Moments before this broadcast, Stellantis made significant progress on the 2009 cost-of- living allowance, the right to not cross a picket line, as well as the right to strike over product commitments, plant closures and outsourcing moratoriums.

We are excited about this momentum at Stellantis and hope it continues.

Fain was referring there "to the COLAs suspended in 2009 and other key union demands," according to Politico.

Meanwhile, Ford CEO Jim Farley made comments on the reason he believes the union made the move:

I believe we could have reached a deal on pay and benefits, but so far I believe the UAW is holding the deal hostage over battery plants.

Politico quoted him as saying [t]he issue “generally speaking” is that the union wants battery plants to be covered by the master labor agreement. The publication noted that "he declined to provide specifics."

As this is a developing story, we will provide further updates as they become available.