How much do UAW workers make? What to know about today’s strikes.

Members of the United Auto Workers union are striking against all three of Detroit’s biggest automakers, after their contracts expired Thursday. The stoppage threatens to destabilize an industry that makes up about 3 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product.

The union’s autoworkers are demanding better wages and benefits, but disparities remain after weeks of talks with the Big Three. General Motors, Ford and Stellantis (the parent company of Chrysler and Jeep) have pledged to negotiate a fair deal but cautioned that they are facing heavy costs and competition from foreign and non-unionized automakers as the electric-vehicle transition heats up.