GM, UAW reach tentative agreement
Strike continues; union council votes Thursday
DETROIT – General Motors and the UAW reached a proposed tentative agreement on a new contract Wednesday, the 31st day of a nationwide strike.
The proposal does not end the strike. Workers were told to remain on the picket line at least until the union’s National GM Council reviews the proposal Thursday and decides whether to submit it to members for ratification.
Details about many provisions were not immediately available, though the Free Press learned that workers would get bonuses of more than $9,000 upon ratification of the deal. GM previously said workers will not pay more for health care, preserving one of the best health plans in the nation.
Details about GM’s pledges on U.S. production, job numbers and pay increases were not immediately known, key points in the negotiations. The Free Press previously reported that a deal was struck on a path to permanent employment for temporary workers, a key UAW demand.
A person familiar with some details
told the Free Press that newer union workers who only get two weeks’ vacation a year will get to take one of those weeks at their choosing. In the previous contract, these employees were required to take both paid vacation weeks during scheduled plant shutdowns, leaving them no vacation days for personal time off.
The second week of a plant shutdown would be considered a layoff and the workers could qualify for unemployment, the source said.
The union’s National Council is to meet Thursday in Detroit to vote on the proposal.
“During the Oct. 17 meeting, the council will decide whether to continue the strike until ratification concludes or to stop the strike at the time of the council’s approval of the agreement,” the union said.
If the National Council approves it, the proposal officially becomes a tentative agreement submitted to GM hourly workers for ratification. Ratification is expected to take a week or two.
The autoworkers walked off the job at 12:01 a.m. Sept. 16, launching the union’s first nationwide strike in 12 years. Their four-year contract had expired at midnight Sept. 14.
The UAW said late Wednesday morning that elected national negotiators voted to recommend that the National Council accept the proposal, which “represents major gains for UAW workers.”
“The number one priority of the national negotiation team has been to secure a strong and fair contract that our members deserve,” said UAW Vice President Terry Dittes, director of the union’s GM Department. “Out of respect for our members, we will refrain from commenting on the details until the UAW GM leaders gather together and receive all details.”
GM confirmed that a proposed agreement had been reached and provided no additional detail.
Autoworkers were bitter about GM announcing plans in November 2018 to idle four U.S. plants and argued it was time for them to be rewarded after making concessions a decade ago to help the automaker rebound from bankruptcy.
During negotiations, it became evident that workers were adamant that temporary workers should get a better deal from GM. The union during the recession a decade ago agreed to expanded hiring of temps by GM, Ford and what then was Chrysler. Those workers are paid $15-$19 an hour with no profit sharing, little time off and no job protection.
The final days of negotiations focused on what the automaker would commit to build at U.S. plants over the four-year life of the new contract. The union pressed for internal combustion vehicle commitments even as GM says it is moving toward an electric future and continues low-cost Mexican production of SUVs and pickups for U.S. sale.
Flint Assembly worker Tommy Wolikow said he was confident the proposed tentative contract will be good, but a key issue for him to be able to ratify it is if it guarantees new product from Mexico.
“Terry Dittes was doing an excellent job and he wouldn’t settle for less and so it should be a pretty good contract,” said Wolikow. “I’m still holding out to see it for myself, so I can vote on it. I really want GM to invest in Lordstown and Detroit-Hamtramck instead of investing in Mexico and Canada.”
Wolikow said he and his fellow strikers are ready to return to work, but only for the right deal.
“We made it this long so we can stay out until it gets ratified,” Wolikow said. “For me, I’m willing to stay out for however long it takes to get a fair agreement. If we get a fair contract, it shows that unions are still powerful and it was a fight for the middle class.”