United Auto Workers and Ford reach 'historic' tentative contract agreement

The United Auto Workers announced Wednesday that the union had reached a "historic" tentative contract agreement with Ford. The union went so far as to call the deal "life-changing."

In a video announcement from UAW President Shawn Fain and International Vice President Chuck Browning, the union provided an overview of the tentative agreement and the ratification process.

Fain called the new contract with Ford a "major victory" for the union's "stand up strike" strategy, which started with a small number of members walking off the job and grew over time to place progressively greater pressure on the automakers to close a deal.

The strike started six weeks ago and marked the first time the union launched a simultaneous walkout against all of the Big Three automobile manufacturers: Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis. The union represents nearly 150,000 workers at automakers.

"For months we've said that record profits mean record contracts. And UAW family, our Stand Up strike has delivered," Fain stated Wednesday. "What started at three plants at midnight on September 15 has become a national movement."

To further pressure the automakers to secure a deal, the UAW expanded the strike Monday to include members at Stellantis' Sterling Heights Assembly in Michigan. Fain noted it is the company's "biggest and most profitable plant." On Tuesday, the union also directed members at GM's Arlington Assembly in Texas to leave the job. Fain again remarked that the facility is GM's largest and most profitable.

"Ford knew what was coming for them on Wednesday if we didn't get a deal. That was checkmate," he explained. "On day 40 of the Stand Up strike, we reached a historic agreement."

Next steps

Now that the UAW and Ford have reached a tentative deal, the union's National Ford Council must vote on whether the agreement should be sent to membership.

If approved, the UAW will host a Facebook Live event on Sunday evening, where the union will explain the agreement in detail.

"Your national negotiators and staff are working tirelessly right now to get the highlighter, the change pages, and White Book together," Fain stated. "Our goal is to have those ready and available digitally for all of you to access online on Sunday night."

Following the live event, the union will host regional meetings to go through the deal with local leaders, who will then host informational meetings with their members.

"After that, it'll be up to the members to vote on the deal," Fain continued. "We're going to let that democratic process take its course."

Key takeaways from the agreement

During Wednesday's announcement, Browning detailed some of the contract's wins.

"This deal puts more money on the table than the 2019 agreement four times over," Browning said. "So when we say historic, we mean it. This contract is going to be life-changing."

The 2023 tentative deal secured a 25% general wage increase and a 150% increase for temporary workers over the life of the contract. Additionally, the automaker's starting wage will increase by about 68% and its top wage by roughly 33%.

Browning also noted that some workers at Ford's Sterling Axle and Rawsonville plants in Michigan will receive up to an 85% raise immediately upon ratification of the contract.

"Together, we are turning the tide for the working class in this country," Fain said. "But the decision isn't up to us. Every UAW member at Ford will get a vote on this deal, and the majority rules."

"So we'll go through our process, we'll discuss and debate, and we'll move forward together, as a united UAW, back in the fight to save the American dream," he concluded.

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