TOLEDO, Ohio — After six weeks on the picket line, striking Jeep workers will be going back to work after a tentative agreement was made between the UAW and Stellantis on Saturday.
Skill trade workers are scheduled to return to work for an overnight shift late on Sunday according to UAW Local 12 Community Service Chairman Dorris Jones.
The agreement ends a six-week strike by more than 14,000 workers at Stellantis assembly plants in Michigan and Ohio, and at parts warehouses across the nation.
Jones says UAW Local 12 leadership will meet with UAW national leadership on Thursday to discuss the agreement.
It's unknown when members will vote on whether to accept the agreement.
According to a UAW press release on Saturday evening, the deal mirrored much of what the UAW agreed to with Ford earlier in the week.
"The agreement grants 25% in base wage increases through April 2028, and will cumulatively raise the top wage by 33% compounded with estimated COLA to over $42 an hour. The starting wage will increase by 67% compounded with estimated COLA, to over $30 an hour. The lowest-paid workers at Stellantis, temporary workers, will see a raise of more than 165% over the life of the agreement. Some workers at Mopar will receive an immediate 76% increase upon ratification."
The deal also includes the reopening of a plant in Belvidere, Ill., that was idled earlier in the year and the addition of a new battery plant.
UAW President Shawn Fain and and Vice President Chuck Browning are scheduled to detail the highlights of the tentative agreement with Ford during a Facebook Live on Sunday at 7 p.m.
Just as happened after the UAW's agreement with Ford earlier in the week, the union says Stellantis workers will return to work while the ratification process progresses.
Stellantis also, released a statement on the deal on Saturday evening.
"Today, as we announce that we have reached a tentative agreement with the UAW on a new labor contract, I would like to thank all the negotiating teams who have worked tirelessly for many weeks to get to this point. We look forward to welcoming our 43,000 employees back to work and resuming operations to serve our customers and execute our Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan to maintain Stellantis’ position at the forefront of innovation."
Initial reaction from strikers on the picket line at the Toledo Assembly Complex on Saturday, before details of the plan were known, was mixed, although more strikers than not said they would be voting no.
Brandon Vasquez, who has been at the plant for 10 years, and his father Robert Vasquez, who has worked at the plant for 26 years, had different answers when asked if they plan on voting for the contract.
“I think it’s a fair contract. Is there a possibility of maybe getting a little bit more? Possibly,” said Robert Vasquez, who said he plans on voting yes.
Robert believes the deal represents the best contract he has seen since 1997, citing the renewed cost of living adjustments, and the inclusion of battery plant workers in union contracts going forward as two huge wins for the union.
For his part, Brandon Vasquez said he worries about what’s going to happen when this contract expires and said he will vote no. He said he would like for pay increases to be a bit higher and worries about the company clawing back what the strikers have gained with this deal.
“I think we can get a little bit better, because in four and a half years the auto industry is going to be electrified. In four and a half years there going to be asking for it back just like they did in 2008,” Brandon Vasquez said.
Both Brandon and Robert Vasquez said they believe UAW President Shawn Fain and the union leadership have done a good job guiding the union through the strike and negotiations.
Chris Dennis, who is a team leader at the plant, said he will be voting no.
He thinks the agreement is good but could be better and isn’t surprised so many strikers on the picket line on Saturday said they would also be voting no.
“They’re asking a lot from us but they’re not giving us what we deserve,” Dennis said. “I think we’re going to be out here a while. I really do.”
The union began targeted strikes against all three automakers on Sept. 15 after contracts with the companies expired.
Approximately 5,800 United Auto Workers at Stellantis' Toledo Assembly Complex were among the first to be called upon by Fain to strike immediately after negotiations failed.
The Ford Assembly Complex in Michigan and a General Motors plant in Missouri joined the Toledo Assembly Complex in striking six weeks ago.
The deal, which still has to be ratified by members, leaves only General Motors without an agreement with the union.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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