Sept 24 Reuters Ford Motor said on Sunday that despite progress in some areas, it still has significant gaps to close on key economic issues before it can reach a new labor agreement with the United Auto Workers union.

The issues are interconnected and must work within an overall agreement that supports our mutual success, it said in a late evening statement after talks over the weekend.

The UAW, which on Friday cited real progress in talks with the No. 2 U.S. automaker, did not immediately comment.

In contrast to Ford, the UAW has expanded strikes against General Motors and Chryslerparent Stellantis to 38 parts distribution centers across the United States. It was not immediately clear if main table bargaining took place with GM and Stellantis over the weekend.

The UAW began unprecedented, simultaneous strikes on Sept. 15 at one assembly plant each of the Detroit Three after the prior fouryear labor deals expired. The strikes at additional GM and Stellantis facilities on Friday added about 5,600 workers to the 12,700 previously on strike.

UAW President Shawn Fain said Friday that Ford had improved its contract offer, including boosting profit sharing and agreeing to let workers strike over plant closures but said the union still had serious issues to resolve.

The Detroit Three automakers have proposed 20 raises over 412 years, while the UAW is seeking 40 along with 32hourwork weeks, the return of defined benefit pensions and to eliminate wage gaps separating newer…