Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV CEO Sergio Marchionne has canceled his Tuesday appearance at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Germany, to focus on contract negotiations with the United Auto Workers, the company said Monday.
The union’s contract with Detroit’s three automakers expires at midnight Monday. Sunday afternoon, the UAW chose FCA as the lead company it will negotiate with to set the pattern for contracts with Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Co.
Bargaining teams for the UAW and all three automakers are expected to continue working through Monday to reach a tentative deal before the contracts expire. If tentative agreements are not reached by the deadline, current contracts typically are extended with little to no controversy.
A formal extension had not been made with any automaker as of Monday morning, according to the union, but Ford said in a statement Sunday it will “continue to operate under the 2011 UAW-Ford contract until further notice.”
