UAW strike: General Motors reaches tentative deal with union

The United Auto Workers union and General Motors have reached a tentative contract agreement, effectively ending the first strike that simultaneous targeted Detroit’s Big Three automakers.

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The agreement came after the union reached tentative deals with Ford on Thursday and Stellantis on Saturday.

“I am honored to announce that we have yet another victory in our stand-up strike,” UAW President Shawn Fain said in a recorded statement shared Monday. “Your bargaining committee worked hard through the night and early this morning we reached a tentative agreement with GM.”

The Associated Press reported that the deal was modeled on those reached with Ford and Stellantis. It will have to be ratified by UAW members before becoming official.

“GM is pleased to have reached a tentative agreement with the UAW that reflects the contributions of the team while enabling us to continue to invest in our future and provide good jobs in the U.S.,” GM CEO Mary Barra said in a statement obtained by the Detroit Free Press. “We are looking forward to having everyone back to work across all of our operations, delivering great products for our customers, and winning as one team.”

If approved, the deal will give salaried workers a 25% wage increase over the life of the contract and reinstate the cost-of-living adjustment. The starting wage for hourly workers will increase by about 70%.

“This will be the most lucrative contract for salaried GM workers in history. For hourly workers, it’s the same story,” Fain said. Later, he added, “We are bringing this tentative agreement to you because we wholeheartedly believe that our strike squeezed every last dime out of General Motors.”

President Joe Biden, who joined workers on a picket line in Michigan last month, gave reporters a thumbs-up when asked about the deal between UAW and GM.

“This historic tentative agreement rewards the autoworkers who have sacrified so much with the record raises, more paid leave, greater retirement security, and more rights and respect at work,” he later said in a statement.

“This historic contract is a testament to the power of unions and collective bargaining to build strong middle-class jobs while helping our most iconic American companies thrive.”

Workers at three GM, Stellantis and Ford plants walked off the job on Sept. 15, kicking off the strike. Over the following six weeks, tens of thousands of workers joined the walkout.

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