--- title: "UAW, Ford End Strike After Tentative Deal Gives Workers 25% Raises" description: "The United Auto Workers union and Ford have reached a tentative labor agreement providing historic wage increases." date: "2023-10-26" modified: "2023-10-26" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/uaw-ford-end-strike-after-tentative-deal-gives-workers-25-raises" categories: - "Ford News" - "News" - "News by Brand" --- # UAW, Ford End Strike After Tentative Deal Gives Workers 25% Raises ![]() *Getty* The United Auto Workers (UAW) union strike has ended at [Ford](), as the two sides have come to a historic tentative labor agreement that will see base wages rise by as much as 25% over the next four-and-a-half years. While the deal isn't finalized, and is still going through the ratification process, both sides have announced the agreement and the UAW has instructed its striking Ford [employees to return to work](). "For months we’ve said that record profits mean record contracts. And UAW family, our Stand Up Strike has delivered. What started at three plants at midnight on September 15, has become a national movement," said UAW President Shawn Fain in a video posted to social media. "We won things nobody thought possible. Since the strike began, Ford put 50% more on the table than when we walked out. This agreement sets us on a new path to make things right at Ford, at the Big Three, and across the auto industry. Together, we are turning the tide for the working class in this country." Base wages will increase by 25% through 2028, while the top wage will increase more than 30%, up to $40 per hour. The starting wage will become $28 per hour, an increase of 68%. However, the employees most impacted will be Ford's lowest paid workers, who will see an increase of 150% over the course of the next four-and-a-half years. In addition, this deal brings back employee benefits that were lost during the Great Recession, provides cost-of-living allowances, throws out wage tiers, and improves retirement for pensions, 401ks, and even current retirees. "UAW members at Ford will receive more in straight general wage increases over the next four and a half years than we have over the last 22 years combined," UAW-Ford Vice President Chuck Browning said. Another historic part of the deal is the union's right to strike over plant closures, which has never been included in a UAW contract before. Now that Ford has made a deal with the UAW, pressure is on at [GM]() and [Stellantis]() to get similar deals done, lest they want to lose further ground to one of their primary rivals. The terms of the contract with Ford provide a template for the other two Detroit automakers, who now know what must be done to put an end to their own plant stoppages. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()