UAW leaders visit Detroit 3 plants to begin bargaining

“Since the Great Recession, we haven’t gained, really, anything,” Fain told reporters. “And the companies have made a quarter of a trillion dollars in profits in the last decade.”

To be sure, in recent years union workers have gotten wage increases, more generous tweaks to the formula used to calculate profit-sharing checks and caps on the number of temporary workers, among other gains. But Fain is seeking to win back virtually all concessions lost since 2007.

On Wednesday, he indicated the union won’t pick a target company, as is tradition, but would instead negotiate with all three automakers at once.

“The strike target is the Big 3,” Fain said. “If the Big 3’s not going to come to the pump for workers, there’s going to be issues.”

Tuesday evening, Fain appeared on Facebook Live asking members to fill out a “support card” with their contact information so the union can keep them informed of bargaining updates. Fain has promised better communication than past leaders.

“We’re taking a different approach every step of the way,” he said.

Fain said he is determined to win gains for union membership.

“We’ve got to stop this can’t-do mentality,” he said. “The question I need you to think about is, ‘How far are you willing to go to win the contract you deserve?’ ”