And the likelihood of an actual strike is very very high.
Ford won't give up the two-tier pay structure. UAW won't keep it. It will be an impasse that will require weeks of a strike to resolve.
Ford will try to ride it out with their Mexico plant still producing. UAW will stick it to them where it hurts...... the F150.
It will be long and bloody! And it is going to mean another year of losses.