The United Automobiles Workers` interim four-year agreement with General Motors Co. would give temporary workers a means to obtain fully equipped employment, would not change health plans, remove the profit-sharing cap, give pay increases or bonuses each year of the contract, and offer a record ratification bonus, according to a summary of the union contract. “The national negotiating team`s top priority was to get a strong and fair contract that our members deserve,” said Terry Dittes, UAW Vice President, Director of UAW GM, in a press release on the breakthrough. Nearly 200 local auto worker executives voted Thursday to send a preliminary agreement with General Motors Co. to members. The Corvette plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky, was scheduled to be redeveloped this month to build the highly anticipated Stingray 2020, but this will be delayed as it finalizes orders for the 2019 model. When the National Council reviews the terms of the agreement, it will also decide whether nearly 50,000 workers should remain on strike or whether they should return to work before accession to the Agreement is ratified. In a brief statement on the agreement, GM said: “We can confirm the UAW statement on a proposed interim agreement. Further details will be provided in due course. The national negotiators, elected by their local unions, achieved great results for the members of the proposed interim agreement. Negotiators voted to recommend that the National Council accept the proposed interim agreement, as the agreement has great benefits for workers. General Motors and United Auto Workers have reached an interim agreement to end the strike that began a month ago, as announced by the union on Wednesday. The NATIONAL council of the UAW GM will vote on the agreement on Thursday.
I have never felt more proud to be a union member. Supported by millions of brothers, sisters and friends across the country, UAW members have come together to get the fair treatment they have earned through years of selfless sacrifice. I recommend that the UAW national negotiators be determined to respect what their members have asked for and I hope this will put an end to one of the bravest fights I have ever seen. The agreement also includes ratification bonuses of $11,000 (compared to $8,000 in 2015) for permanent employees. Temporary employees would receive a $US 4,500 ratification bonus, up from 2,000 $US in 2015. The company would pay the bonuses during the second pay period after the agreement was ratified. A cap of $12,000 for recipient companies is also being removed and permanent employees continue to receive US$1,000 for every $1 billion in upstream tax revenue generated by GM in North America. There are no changes in public health or additional fees for members of the UAW-GM Attempt Agreement. #Bargaining2019 pic.twitter.com/vn68vIybiv In a statement, GM said it was generating future investment opportunities and job growth in Ohio`s Mahoning Valley.