Strike Averted As UAW, Fiat Chrysler Reach Tentative Agreement

It appears workers at the Belvidere assembly plant won't be hitting the picket lines today, as a last-second tentative agreement has been hammered out between the UAW and Fiat Chrysler.

According to the Detroit Free Press:

The deal came just before midnight and "secured significant gains," the union announced in a Facebook post at 12:03 am. Thursday.

“We heard from our members, and went back to FCA to strengthen their contract,” said UAW President Dennis Williams. “We’ve reached a proposed Tentative Agreement that I believe addresses our members’ principal concerns about their jobs and their futures. We have made real gains and I look forward to a full discussion of the terms with our membership.”

The Free Press reports the agreement will be discussed by national union leaders on Friday. If they approve, the deal would go the for a ratification vote. Details are expected to be available after the Friday meeting.

If no agreement had been reached, some 40,000 Fiat Chrysler workers, including those in Belvidere, likely would have hit the picket lines starting today.