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From the UAW: TENTATIVE AGREEMENT AT FORD: Major Victory in Our Stand Up Strike

Berry Craig
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EDITOR'S NOTE: From Kirk Gillenwaters, Kentucky Alliance for Retired Americans president and UAW Local 862 retiree: "Today's  action of support by the Ky ARA has been cancelled. We are glad to announce that a tentative agreement has been made with Ford Motor Company by the UAW and the strike pickets have been removed and a call to return to work is currently being made. Thanks to everyone in their support of the UAW Local 862 striking members."

Today, our UAW national negotiators reached a tentative agreement with Ford. We said record profits mean record contracts, and the Stand Up Strike has delivered.

UAW President Shawn Fain and Vice President Chuck Browning announced the agreement in a video released tonight.

In the video, President Fain and Vice President Browning give an overview of the agreement, while outlining next steps in the ratification process. Here’s a summary of what we’ve won at Ford:

  • The gains in the deal are valued at more than four times the gains from the 2019 contract.
  • It provides more in base wage increases than Ford workers have received in the past 22 years.
  • The agreement grants 25% in base wage increases through April 2028.
  • It cumulatively raises the top wage by over 30% to more than $40 an hour.
  • It raises the starting wage by 68%, to over $28 an hour.
  • The lowest-paid workers at Ford will see a raise of more than 150% over the life of the agreement.
  • Some workers will receive an immediate 85% increase immediately upon ratification.

The agreement reinstates major benefits lost during the Great Recession, including Cost-of-Living Allowances (COLA) and a three-year Wage Progression, as well as killing divisive wage tiers in the union.

It improves retirement for current retirees, those workers with pensions, and those who have 401(k) plans. It also includes a historic right to strike over plant closures, a first for our union.

As President Fain said, the members are the highest authority in our union, so they will make the final decision on this agreement after it’s reviewed by the UAW-Ford National Council.

While we’re going through the ratification process, President Fain and Vice President Browning are asking UAW members at Ford to return to work. We’re going back to work at Ford to keep the pressure on Stellantis and GM. The last thing they want is for Ford to get back to full capacity while they mess around and lag behind. 

The Stand Up Strike continues at Stellantis and GM, where we will keep fighting for a fair agreement for every UAW member.

 

In Solidarity,

The UAW Organizing Team