The United Autoworkers Union has reached a tentative agreement with Ford.
This comes after almost two weeks since the UAW reached a tentative agreement with General Motors that was ratified by the rank and file last week. The financial terms of that are used as a pattern by the union to get similar terms from Ford and Fiat Chrysler.
Ford has 55,000 hourly workers in the US, more than the 46,000 who went on strike against GM for 40 days. There was no work stoppage at Ford.
Big issues in talks with GM were terms for lower-paid workers who were in-progression or temporary workers. Similar to GM, Ford says 34% of its workforce is in-progression and 6% is temporary. The terms of this Ford agreement are not yet known.
Here’s the official word from the UAW:
The UAW Ford National Negotiators, UAW President Gary Jones along with UAW Vice President Rory Gamble, Director of the Ford Department, have announced that they have reached a proposed tentative agreement.
“Our national negotiators elected by their local unions have voted unanimously to recommend to the UAW-Ford National Council the proposed tentative agreement,” Gamble said. “Our negotiating team worked diligently during the General Motors strike to maintain productive negotiations with Ford. The pattern bargaining strategy has been a very effective approach for UAW and its members to secure economic gains around salary, benefits and secured over $6 billion in major product investments in American facilities, creating and retaining over 8,500 jobs for our communities.”
“Out of respect for our members, we will refrain from commenting or releasing full details of the agreement until the UAW-Ford Council leaders meet and review the details,” Gamble added.
Ford also released this statement: "Ford can confirm the UAW’s announcement that the UAW and Ford have reached a proposed tentative agreement on a four-year contract. Further details will be provided at a later date."
UAW President Gary Jones thanked the national negotiators for their hard work. “Vice President Gamble, his staff and the Ford negotiating team have worked tirelessly to reach an agreement that preserves job security and rewards UAW Ford members for their quality work,” said Jones. “These were long and hard hours, but I feel confident they were able to secure a contract that protects our member’s future.”
The UAW-Ford National Council will meet to go over details of the proposed Tentative Agreement. If adopted as a Tentative Agreement, it will go to all Ford hourly and salary members for a ratification vote.
