Workers at a Michigan Ford facility voted to approve the tentative United Auto Workers contract with the company this week, marking significant progress toward union-wide approval.
Employees at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan voted overwhelmingly this week to approve the contract. According to union officials, 81% of Local 900 voted to approve the contract.
The approval is one of the first since UAW reached a tentative agreement with the Big Three Detroit automakers late last month. Local union leaders from across the U.S. are reviewing the deals at Ford, General Motors and Jeep maker Stellantis before going back and making the case to their members.
Voting at Ford facilities will continue through Nov. 17.
All three contracts are relatively similar. All contracts give workers a 25% pay increase and other general benefit increases, including increased contributions to retirement funds.
While support for the tentative deals is strong, the deals do not deliver on many of the tentpole demands from UAW President Shawn Fain. During the six-week-long strike, Mr. Fain repeatedly demanded that the auto companies deliver 40% pay increases, reintroduce pension plans and significantly bolster union protections.
• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.
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