Tentative Agreement Reached Between UAW and General Motors

A tentative agreement has been reached between the UAW and GM on a new contract for autoworkers, drawing to an end the union's first nationwide strike in 31 years.

UAW President Ron Gettelfinger announced the agreement at a 4 a.m. news conference at the union's national headquarters in Detroit. He said the agreement included a historic plan to shift oversight of retiree health-care benefits to the UAW, removing more than $50 billion in long-term obligations from GM's books.

There's no question this was one of the most complex and difficult bargaining sessions in the history of the GM/UAW relationship," Rick Wagoner, GM Chairman and CEO, said in a statement.

The strike began Mon., Sept 24th at 11:00a.m., and effected General Motors plant across the country. Gettelfinger said workers would return to production lines this morning.

The strike, which involved 73,000 GM workers, had effects that were beginning to ripple across the auto industry. Production at General Motors plants in Canada was slowing and, auto dealers begun to miss service parts and suppliers had started to laying off workers.

As news spread through to the union members that an agreement has been reached UAW members anxiously await to see the details of the agreement. " I am just glad it is over" D. Smith member Local 2209, Fort Wayne Assembly said. "I trust our Union, I am sure they got us a good contract".