Allison Transmilssion plant in Indianapolis (Photo courtesy of RTV6)

Allison Transmission and the United Auto Workers agreed early Thursday to extend the expiration date of their current labor agreement, avoiding a potential strike.

The agreement was set to expire at midnight on Thursday, but was extended through noon on Wednesday, Nov. 21.

Negotiations over health and safety issues between the plant and 1,500 employees represented by the UAW have been ongoing since September.

Allison, one of the city's biggest industrial employers, makes transmissions for trucks, buses, military vehicles and mining equipment.