DETROIT - High-wire talks between striking US workers and automotive giants are in a "critical phase," Jeep-maker Stellantis said, as politicians staked out positions on a labour issue that could have national impact.
Stellantis, together with fellow "Big Three" automakers General Motors and Ford, was hit by a limited strike -- but one the United Auto Workers (UAW) warns could spread.
Both sides issued cautious statements Saturday.
"Our bargaining team continues to work days, nights and weekends" in pursuit of a "reasonable" solution, said the statement from Stellantis, which was formed by the merger of Fiat Chrysler and the French PSA Group.
But the automaker warned that if talks took a bad turn, the outcome "will take us backward and endanger the long-term competitiveness of our Company, negatively impacting our workers and our communities."
There was no immediate formal response from the union, but a UAW source told AFP, "we had reasonably productive conversations with Ford today."
Only about 12,700 of the UAW's 150,000 members are currently on strike.