(The Center Square) – After 11 weeks on strike, the United Auto Workers announced a tentative agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network.
The agreement includes the reduction of the wage progression from 22 years to five, significant general wage increases, a $6,500 ratification bonus for Blue Cross Blue Shield workers, a $5,000 ratification bonus for Blue Care Network workers, and inflation protection bonuses of $1,000 each year of the contract.
Negotiators secured stronger contractual language to protect worker jobs from being outsourced during the agreement.
“Our members have proven that when workers stick together, they can achieve historical gains at the bargaining table,” UAW Secretary-Treasurer Margaret Mock said in a statement. “There were difficult times during this strike, especially with the cold weather, but our members never gave up hope and they continued to stand with one another for as long as it took to enable our bargaining team to win an equitable contract that our members deserve.”
UAW workers started striking Sept. 13 seeking to end the tiered pay structure that required workers to acquire 22 years of seniority to reach the top pay rate. With the tentative agreement, union negotiators shortened the wage progression down to five years.
“Wage progression and job security were concerns that we knew we had to fix during this round of bargaining,” Mock said. “Twenty-two years to reach top pay is unacceptable. Because of our members’ solidarity on the picket lines and our negotiators’ hard work at the bargaining table, we were able to address many of our demands.”
If ratified, the contract will cover approximately 1,300 UAW members from four local unions: Locals 2500 and 1781 out of Detroit, Region 1, Locals 2145 in Grand Rapids and 2256 in Lansing Region 1D.
Members will remain on strike while the agreement goes through the ratification process.
The possible strike’s end follow the UAW reaching new contracts with the Big Three automakers.
