Though the United Autoworkers Union's threat to strike Chrysler LLC tomorrow got the headlines today, the union's biggest challenge ahead lies with Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F).

As Daniel Howes of the Detroit News points out, Ford is hoping to get a better deal than the agreement the UAW recently reached with General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) because of the automaker's "more dire financial circumstances." UAW head Ron Gettelfinger has spent most of his career representing Ford workers and is close with Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr., with whom he's been speaking with almost daily for the past month, according to Howes.

Ford Chief Executive Alan Mulally is well-regarded on Wall Street but he certainly has his work cut out for him. Earlier this year, the Dearborn, Mich. automaker unveiled a major restructuring which included the elimination of 25,000 to 30,000 jobs. Pundits including Howes say more job cuts and plant closings are possible. Last year, Ford posted a record deficit of $12.6 billion.

Whether the close ties between Gettelfinger and Bill Ford will help avoid labor trouble remains to be seen. For now, the UAW is focusing its attention on Chrysler.

A Chrysler spokeswoman told the AP that the automaker remained optimistic about a settlement. The timing of the UAW's ultimatum was interesting considering that five U.S. Chrysler plants were going to be shut down anyway for about two weeks starting today because of lower demand for Chrysler products.