By David Shepardson

The head of the United Auto Workers, which represents 150,000 U.S. hourly workers at General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler-parent Stellantis, said the union is not afraid to strike any of the automakers without a fair contract.

"The Big Three is our strike target. And whether or not there's a strike, it's up to Ford, General Motors and Stellantis," UAW President Shawn Fain said Tuesday in online remarks.

"They've made a quarter of a trillion dollars in North American profits over the last 10 years and they can afford to make things right for our members. If the Big Three don't give us our fair share, then they're choosing to strike themselves and we're not afraid to take action," Fain said.

Talks with Detroit's Big Three automakers start on Thursday, ahead of the mid-September expiration of the current four-year labor deal. Up first is Stellantis, followed by Ford on Friday and GM on July 18.

Stellantis said its "focus will be on negotiating a contract that will ensure our future competitiveness in today’s rapidly changing global market and preserve good wages and benefits that recognize the contributions of our represented workforce."

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Bill Berkrot)