How high-stakes negotiations between UAW, automakers will affect Buffalo Niagara region

The UAW’s four-year contracts with General Motors, Ford Motor Co. and Stellantis are set to expire Sept. 14. The union has raised the threat of striking if new deals aren’t reached.

GM has two manufacturing plants in the region, and Ford Motor Co. has one area plant. Here’s how things are shaping up as negotiations unfold:

The automakers are bargaining with new union leaders this time. And those union leaders are taking a more-aggressive stance toward negotiations.

The UAW has undergone sweeping change in its leadership, with Shawn Fain winning election as the UAW International president. He campaigned as a reformer, following a series of corruption scandals that had rocked the union’s upper ranks and led to multiple convictions.

As president, Fain has been outspoken and accessible, hosting town halls on Facebook Live and launching web pages to update members on the negotiations.

Fain and other UAW leaders set the tone by not participating in the traditional public handshake with the automakers’ CEOs to kick off negotiations.

“I’ll shake hands with the CEOs when they come to the table with a deal that reflects the needs of the workers who make this industry run,” Fain said.

UAW officials instead shook hands with members outside three auto manufacturing plants.

GM chair and CEO Mary Barra said at the start of the talks: “We have a long history of negotiating fair contracts with the UAW that reward…