OSHKOSH, Wis. — A United Auto Workers local has agreed to begin negotiating a contract extension as Oshkosh Corp makes a bid on a defense contract.

The military truck builder says it needs to cut costs to beat other competitors for the contract. So Oshkosh wants to extend its current union contract with Local 578 by another five years. The company is hoping to win a contract to build a tactical vehicle for the Army and Marine Corps beginning in 2016, about the time the current union contract expires. The company says winning the contract would preserve jobs in Oshkosh.

WLUJK-TV reports (http://bit.ly/121xhZ8 ) that the union agreed to the request Wednesday. Union officials would not comment after the results were released, but said earlier Wednesday they were ready to begin the conversation.