The United Automobile Workers (UAW) and Ford Motor Co. have reached a tentative agreement, ending a two-week strike at the automaker. The UAW, which represents more than 50,000 of the company’s workers, had gone on strike on September 16 in an attempt to pressure Ford into a better labor deal.
The proposed agreement still needs to be ratified by Ford’s workers, but if it is approved, it will bring much needed stability and security to the workforce. The deal reportedly includes wage increases, bonuses, greater access to retirement benefits, and stronger job security protections.
The Ford deal is expected to provide a template for deals with General Motors and Fiat Chrysler, which both have UAW-represented workers at their factories. While the details of the deal remain mostly under wraps, it is expected to serve as a framework for similar deals with those automakers.
The Ford strike and the potential deals with the other automakers are part of a larger effort by the UAW to better the lives of its members across the Big Three automakers. By successfully negotiating a better deal for its workers at Ford, the union can build momentum and leverage for similar deals with GM and Fiat Chrysler. The UAW is hoping that the proposed deals will serve as a means to address income inequality and ensure workers have access to better wages, better benefits, and more job security.
