LORDSTOWN, Ohio - UAW officials say they have signed a memorandum of understanding with General Motors extending the national contract that was set to expire at midnight on Monday.

A message from UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada the 2011 agreement will continue in full force.

Employees of the General Motors Assembly plant represented by UAW Local 1112 in  Lordstown were advised earlier Monday by union leaders that they would not be going on strike.

A notification posted by UAW Local 1112 President Glenn Johnson says that because Fiat Chrysler has been named as the strike target for national negotiations, members would not walk off the job.

The UAW announced on Sunday that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will be the lead target in Big Three auto talks.

In past negotiations, major provisions of a contract reached with the target company become a pattern for labor agreements with the other two companies, which in this case would be General Motors and Ford.

The announcement also means that Fiat Chrysler would likely become the target of a strike if negotiations fail to reach an agreement.

Stay connected with 21 News and wfmj.com for the latest updates in the negotiations.