The United Auto Workers (UAW) and Ford Motor Company have reached a tentative agreement that could potentially end the nearly six-week long strike at Ford’s U.S. plants. The union strike began in mid-September and involve thousands of workers who produce cars, trucks, and SUVs for Ford across the United States.
The UAW’s Ford Council convened on November 15th, 2019 to discuss the deal, and the union released the details this week. In a press statement released Wednesday, UAW Vice President Jimmy Settles said: “This tentative agreement has been overwhelmingly endorsed by the leadership of the UAW Ford National Council and highlights the outstanding efforts of all parties involved.”
The five year tentative agreement secures a significant raise for the 47,000 UAW workers employed at Ford’s over 40 U.S. plants. Under the agreement, workers are expected to receive a combination of lump-sum bonuses and wage increases. It also includes double-time wages for Saturday and Sunday shifts, allocation of disability retirement payments, and training and retraining support for workers.
In addition, Ford has also agreed to invest $1.45 billion in U.S. plants and bring additional jobs to the local economy. This could potentially provide more stability in the automotive manufacturing sector and help attract more new workers.
The deal is expected to be ratified over the next few weeks, and if approved, the strike would be officially over. Ford has already settled agreements with UAW members in August, and the other big automakers – GM and Fiat Chrysler – are currently in negotiation.
If the strike is indeed resolved, it could mean big economic gains for the struggling automotive industry. Not only will it bring significant economic benefits to UAW’s workers, but it could also potentially serve as a beacon of hope for other industry workers across the United States.