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The United Auto Workers union said on Wednesday that its members have voted to ratify a new contract with the Big Three automakers, following a contentious vote that lasted almost two weeks.
The new contract, which was negotiated over the summer and finalized in October, includes pay raises for thousands of UAW-represented workers, the right for temporary workers to become permanent after three years and increased investments in healthcare and job training. The agreement also includes $9 billion in investments from General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles into U.S. plants, creating or retaining more than 8,000 jobs.
In a statement, UAW President Gary Jones said that the new contract would “provide our membership with additional economic security and job stability.”
“This contract was negotiated to ensure that our members can remain the highest skilled auto workers in the world and continue to earn industry-leading wages and benefits,” Jones said in a statement.
The ratification of the contract marks the end of a tense fight between union leadership and members who had initially rejected the deal. During the two-week-long vote, union members lodged complaints about the deal and called for greater job security and better incomes.
Ultimately, the union’s leadership argued in favor of the proposed contract and said that it was the best deal that could be achieved under the current economic landscape.
“With the ratification of this agreement, we will have the resources to invest in our members and create opportunities for our membership and our communities, while also producing a product that continues to push the boundaries of the automobile industry,” Jones said.