NORMAL - Members of the United Auto Workers at Mitsubishi Motors North America will take a strike authorization vote Sunday. UAW Local 2488, which represents workers at the plant, referred questions to its Detroit office. A union official there confirmed the vote but would not give his name for publication.

MMNA spokesman Dan Irvin also declined comment.

"We're not discussing anything that relates to the negotiations," Irvin said.

Management and union officials at the Mitsubishi auto plant in Normal began talks for a new contract last month. The current collective bargaining agreement expires on Aug. 28.

A strike authorization vote is a procedural step during the negotiation period. An in-favor vote would authorize the union to strike if negotiations fail to result in a new contract.

The union has voted favorably for strike authorization votes in the past.

Mitsubishi workers went on a one-day strike in 2001.

While Mitsubishi car sales were up in 2007, the company has had its share of troubles in recent years and joins the automobile industry in general with struggling sales this year.

Mitsubishi's sales through July have dropped 21.3 percent, from 80,704 vehicles in 2007 to 63,527 in 2008.

As a result of diminishing sales, 105 union workers will leave the plant as part of a voluntary separation package the company offered in May. Irvin previously said the workers will leave the company sometime in August, but was unsure of a specific date.

After the departure of the employees, the Normal plant will have 1,565 employees, including 1,261 union workers.

As part of a wage and benefit cut agreement in 2006, Mitsubishi promised not to close the plant or seek involuntary layoffs through this August, the end of the contract. Workers received a $4 wage restoration promised at that time in April, but management initially asked the union to consider a lump-sum payment instead.

Mitsubishi laid off 1,200 workers and eliminated its second shift in 2004.