This footage was filmed and produced 15 September 2023.

The president of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union warned Sunday of a possible "amplification" of the strike that began Friday among the three major U.S. automakers if the companies do not come up with better wage proposals, as the dispute enters the political debate.

"If we don't get better offers (...) we're going to amplify this even more," UAW President Shawn Fain told the CBS talk show "Face the Nation." General Motors, Ford and Stellantis have "no excuse" for not resolving wage disputes given their huge profits in recent years, he noted.

"We've been lagging for decades," he added, explaining that the workers he represents "are fed up."

Highly offensive since the start of negotiations two months ago, Fain stepped up the pressure on Saturday after discussions resumed between the union and the industry's "big three."

Three plants have been shut down since Friday: a General Motors plant in Wentzville (Missouri), a Stellantis plant in Toledo (Ohio) and a Ford subsidiary in Wayne (Michigan).