The Latest: Union picks GM as target in contract talks

DETROIT (AP) - The Latest on contract talks between the United Auto Workers and Detroit's three automakers (all times local):

9:30 a.m.

The United Auto Workers union has picked General Motors as the target company for this year's contract talks.

The move means that GM will be the focus of bargaining and any deal with the company will set the pattern for Ford and Fiat Chrysler. It also means that if the union decides to go on strike, it be against GM.

The union's contracts with GM, Ford and Fiat Chrysler expire at 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 14.

Earlier Tuesday the union announced that over 96% of its members voted to authorize strikes against the companies.

9 a.m.

More than 96% of United Auto Workers union members have voted to authorize strikes against Detroit's three automakers.

The union said Tuesday the vote means leadership is authorized to call strikes against General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler. But it doesn't mean there will be a work stoppage.

Contracts with the automakers expire at 11:59 p.m. Sept. 14.

Later this week the union is expected to name a target company that will be the focus of bargaining. A deal with that company is likely to set the pattern for the others. If there is a strike, it would be against the target.

Many observers expect a strike as the union seeks pay raises and the companies seek cost parity with foreign automakers that have plants in the U.S.

____ This first item in this story has been corrected to show that the time the UAW's contracts expire is 11:59 p.m. Sept. 14.