TOLEDO, Ohio — UPDATE: Local 14 President Tony Totty confirmed to WTOL 11 that General Motors Toledo Propulsion Systems workers will return to work on Wednesday. He also said that union leadership will get a look at the contract Friday in Southfield, Michigan.
General Motor's Toledo Propulsion Systems in west Toledo will soon bring its workforce back in full swing. Following a lengthy strike, UAW local 14 members have been working staggered shifts the last couple of weeks.
On Monday, UAW President Shawn Fain announced the end to the strike in a video along with a tentative agreement with GM. This comes as members were on the picket line for more than 40 days.
Local 14 President Tony Totty said he was glad to hear the news. A large portion of Local 14 members work at Toledo Propulsion Systems. Though the facility wasn't on strike, Totty said the members technically were as they were getting strike assistance.
Totty said this agreement had a big effect on his members.
"It's substantial raises for everybody and that's what we've been demanding," he said.
While details of the agreement haven't been announced, Fain mentioned parts of the tentative deal:
- A 25% wage increase for hourly workers
- A 70% increase to the starting wage
- The top wage increasing by 33%
- A path for temporary workers to become full-time
"We wholeheartedly believe our strike squeezed every last dime out of General Motors," said Fain in the announcement.
Totty also points the negotiations forced the big three to look to the future and include battery facilities to the contract.
"Engines don't go into electric vehicles," Totty said. "If they do close one of those facilities, where do those members go? So that's why it was so important to get those battery facilities in the deal, and we're excited about that."
As WTOL 11 reported, this strike also hit suppliers. WTOL 11 introduced you to two Adient Interior employees who were laid off. They confirmed, after tentative deals were made, they went back to work on Monday.
"All UAW members had to sacrifice and we're just happy to see a conclusion," said Totty.
But he's cautions that the deal's not done. This weekend he will go to Detroit to hear the deal completely. Then Totty and other union leadership will vote to ratify the deal.
"I want to see it myself," he said. "I think it's a little too early even, for me, to say yes or no on the deal. So, I'm eager to see what's in it."
If the deal goes through leadership, union membership will vote. They have the final say on if the deal goes through.
MORE UAW HEADLINES FROM WTOL 11: