Contracts for all of Detroit's Big Three automakers have now been ratified.
The United Auto Workers (UAW) announced Wednesday afternoon that their members working at Fiat-Chrysler have ratified their new deal.
According to a statement from the UAW, 71 per cent of the overall American rank-and-file said yes to the contract. This included 74 per cent of all hourly workers, 59 per cent of skilled trade employees, and 67 per cent of the salary bargaining unit.
"Every full-time production employee currently at FCA will be at top rate by the end of this four-year agreement," said Cindy Estrada, UAW vice-president and director of the UAW-FCA unit. "All temporary workers now have a defined pathway to full time and top pay as well."
The agreement loosely follows the lead provided by contracts already worked out with General Motors and Ford, providing a route for full-time and temporary workers. Included in the deal are wage increases in accordance with the pattern, a signing bonus, added prescription drug coverage for temporary workers, and an additional $4.5 in new investment on top of $4.5 billion already announced, which included a new plant in Detroit.
"We wouldn’t be the company we are today without the contributions of our UAW-represented workforce, and this contract recognizes and rewards their dedication in helping us achieve that success," said Mark Stewart, FCA North America's chief operating officer. "Working with the UAW, we are pleased to have reached a new agreement that allows us to continue our record of adding good-paying UAW-represented jobs, building strong families, investing in our communities and offering exceptional vehicles to our customers."