The automobile labor strikes appear to be finished — though not with absolute certainty. Here is what will happen next

US Auto Strike Nears Resolution

The most prolonged automotive strike in the United States in a quarter-century appears to be drawing to a close—at least for now.

On Monday night, the United Auto Workers (UAW) union revealed it had reached a preliminary contract agreement with General Motors. This announcement came after similar tentative deals were made with Stellantis on Saturday and with Ford last Wednesday.

As a result, picket lines are being dismantled, and nearly 50,000 UAW members who participated in the strike at various times are either already back at work or will be returning soon. However, the possibility remains that the strike could resume at any of the automakers in the coming weeks, since the final approval of these agreements depends on a vote by the 145,000 union members across the three companies.

Ordinarily, union members remain off the job until a tentative agreement is ratified. This time, however, the UAW directed Ford workers to return to their positions early, aiming to increase pressure on GM and Stellantis to match Ford’s terms.

When Stellantis accepted the proposed contract on Saturday, the union not only sent its striking members back to work but also called for nearly 4,000 workers at GM’s Spring Hill, Tennessee plant to join the strike, intensifying the push for GM to finalize its own deal.

The union has not explained why 18,000 of its striking members are resuming work before the ratification vote. It would have been challenging to keep them off the job while their counterparts at Ford and Stellantis had already returned and were receiving regular pay.

This situation is also unusual because, for the first time, only a portion of the workforce at a company went on strike, rather than all union members. Since most UAW employees at GM continued working and did not lose income, maintaining picket lines for a minority of workers would have been difficult.

If union members at any of the companies reject the proposed contracts, strikes could quickly restart at those locations—potentially involving the entire workforce this time.

Significant Wage Increases on the Table

The proposed agreements offer substantial financial incentives. Most workers at the top pay rate of around $32 per hour would see an immediate 11% wage increase, followed by four additional raises totaling another 14% before the contract expires in April 2028.

Additionally, cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) would be reinstated—benefits the union relinquished in 2007 when all three automakers faced severe financial challenges, with GM and Chrysler (now Stellantis) nearing bankruptcy and requiring federal assistance. Combined with guaranteed pay hikes, these changes could boost top wages by more than 30% over the contract’s duration.

Some senior employees who have not yet reached the highest pay scale could see their earnings rise by 20% to 46%. Meanwhile, workers in lower pay tiers are set to receive immediate raises of up to 88%.

Despite these gains, there is a trend of union members rejecting agreements endorsed by leadership. For example, members at Mack Trucks recently voted down a last-minute deal, even after it had been negotiated by union officials.

Calls for a ‘No’ Vote Among Members

During a Facebook Live session on Sunday, UAW President Shawn Fain outlined the details of the Ford agreement. Many viewers posted comments criticizing the deal and encouraging others to vote against it.

While some critics did not specify their reasons, others expressed dissatisfaction that veteran workers would not benefit as much as newer hires. There was also disappointment that the union did not secure all its demands, such as restoring traditional pension plans for employees hired after 2007 or reinstating retiree health benefits for more recent hires.

However, vocal opposition online does not always reflect the broader membership’s views. For instance, a similar wave of criticism occurred when the Teamsters union reached a deal with UPS earlier this year, but that agreement was ultimately approved by 86% of voting members.

Fain emphasized that the union’s rank-and-file members have the final say on these agreements. Nonetheless, he strongly advocated for the deals reached with Ford and Stellantis, highlighting that the union achieved victories many thought were unattainable during negotiations.