UAW members approve new employment contract with GM, ending 40-day strike

DETROIT – United Auto Workers on Friday gave final approval for a new four-year contract with General Motors. The ratification ends the union's 40-day strike, which cost the car manufacturer well over $ 2 billion.

Some of the union's 48,000 members with GM are expected to return to work as early as Saturday, showing that the carmaker is not wasting time in order to recover lost production from the work stoppage, which began on September 16.

UAW won several financial benefits for its members as part of the agreement, including annual one-time bonuses or raises and $ 1[ads1]1,000 ratification bonuses, but it also agreed not to block the company's plans to close four US plants, including three plants and a distribution center benefits.

GM also agreed to invest $ 7.7 billion in current facilities, add thousands of new jobs and shorten the time period for workers to earn top wages of more than $ 32 an hour. Union members also maintain their health insurance, which is considered a "gold standard" and requires employees to cover about 3% of total costs.

UAW will use the agreement as a template for negotiations with Ford Motor and Fiat Chrysler, both of which agreed to extend contract extensions so that the union could concentrate on talks with GM.

The national strike, which caused extensive layoffs at car suppliers and GM's operations in Canada and Mexico, was the longest for UAW members against GM since a 67-day pardon in 1970.

Many expected GM workers to ratify the agreement , but there were some doubts due to planned shutdowns of the facility and growing distrust of union leadership amid an expanded federal probe into corruption in the UAW.