Observers were surprised when Fiat Chrysler was selected as the first of Detroit's automakers to negotiate an agreement, or serve as a "strike target."
GM and the UAW kicked off contract talks Monday; Chrysler and Ford will do the same this month. Negotiations are never easy, but since industry bailouts in 2009, there's a stronger push to cooperate.
The automaker said the new policy would allow dialogue — but not collective bargaining — with groups. It comes months after the UAW lost a vote to represent workers at the Chattanooga, Tenn., factory.