The United Auto Workers went on strike at three plants across Detroit’s Big Three car manufacturers on Friday after the sides failed to reach a new deal on wages, benefits and other issues.

The move — which targets plants in Michigan, Ohio and Missouri — will ratchet up pressure on President Joe Biden to work with both sides to avert a full-blown work stoppage that would include numerous other states and send shock waves through the economy.

It follows through on UAW President Shawn Fain’s threats to stop work at Ford, General Motors and Stellantis if the union’s contracts with the automakers expired as planned at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday.

However, the targeted nature of the strike will limit the economic hit to both auto-producing regions and the overall economy while giving the union the ability to raise the temperature on the car companies.