The United Auto Workers union will open contract talks with Detroit's Three automakers starting Thursday ahead of the mid-September expiration of the current four-year labor deal.

The union said talks will open Thursday with Chrysler-parent Stellantis, on Friday with Ford Motor and July 18 with General Motors. UAW President Shawn Fain has repeatedly said the UAW wants to eliminate the two-tier wage system under which new hires earn as much as 25% less than veterans and will push to restore pay improvements tied to the cost of living and retiree benefits cut during the 2008-2009 Great Recession.

(Reporting by David Shepardson)