The United Auto Workers is targeting nearly 150,000 workers at U.S. factories owned by 13 automakers, including large foreign-owned companies and electric vehicle manufacturers, in one of its largest organizing drives in history.

The campaign comes on the heels of the UAW’s record gains in contracts with Detroit’s Big 3 automakers following six weeks of strikes in September and October.

The UAW said it is targeting more than three dozen factories at companies including Toyota and Volkswagen and electric vehicle manufacturers Tesla and Rivian Automotive. In October, UAW President Shawn Fain said the union hopes to be bargaining with “the Big 5 or Big 6” instead of just “the Big 3” in coming years.

The UAW’s membership has dropped from a peak of about 1.5 million members decades ago to some 400,000 members today, including 145,000 workers at Ford, General Motors and Chrysler parent Stellantis. Over the past decade, the UAW has been unsuccessful in unionizing Tesla, Nissan Motor and Volkswagen factories.

The Washington Post, Nov. 29