UAW International leader Shawn Fain on Friday told its membership real progress has been made in its negotiations with Ford, with the company discussing to eliminate wage scale tiers for of if its facilities that make axles and components for their vehicles, looking to bring the salary to the same as the assembly workers, and looking to reinstate the cost of living formula that was suspended in 2009.

Fain also said that Ford also agreed in the proposal to give workers the right to strike over the closure of plants during the life of the contract, including income security and health care for 2 years , including for workers with 90 days of service or more.

GM and Stellantis rejected the job security proposals.

Fain called this progress "an important victory," as some of the UAW workers enter into their second week of striking against Ford, GM and Stellantis.

However, Fain announced an expansion of autoworkers going on strike to include parts distribution centers for GM and Stellantis.

“At noon Eastern today, all parts distributions centers at General Motors and Stellantis will be on strike,” he said. “We will shut down parts distribution until those two companies come to their senses and come to the table with a serious offer.”

One of the distribution centers to join the strike will be the Chrysler Parts Distribution Center in Streetsboro.