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UAW and Ford Strike Deal: End of the Road for Big Three Strike?

The United Auto Workers and Ford Motor Co. have reached a tentative agreement on a new four-year labor pact, potentially ending the strike at the American automaker that has been ongoing since September 16. The two sides agreed to a four-year agreement that includes significant wages and benefits for Ford’s approximately 56,000 UAW-represented workers, including a pay raise for all new hires with the potential for profit-sharing and other bonuses and benefits. The strike has been ongoing since members of the UAW, which is the largest union representing workers in the U.S. auto industry, voted to reject the initial contract proposal made by Ford in September. The union’s workers have been without pay since, leading to significant financial hardship for both the workers and their families. In addition to the wage and benefit increases, the agreement goes beyond the standard labor contracts to address other issues important to workers, such as healthcare and job security. The tentative agreement also includes commitments to invest $6 billion in U.S. facilities, creating or preserving 8,500 jobs. The agreement provides Ford with the flexibility it needs to remain competitive in the market while also maintaining a strong and secure job for its dedicated workforce. It is also a major victory for the UAW, which has been advocating for better wages and benefits for their members for several years. The new agreement still needs to be approved by both the UAW and Ford. If approved, it will mark the end of the longest auto industry labor strike in decades and put Ford back on track to resume production of cars and SUVs.