On Monday, the United Auto Workers went on strike against General Motors because as UAW President Ron Gettelfinger puts it, they are pushed by the automaker into the decision.  According to Edmunds’ AutoObserver.com, Gettelfinger claimed that General Motors is turning their discussion into a "one way street" with the automaker  expecting the union to conform with their conditions and at the same time expecting that it need not give anything back.  Gettelfinger even said that they are under the impression that the automaker does not care if the union went on strike.  And strike they did. But now, fortunately, it seems that the union and the automaker has come to terms and are willing to sit  down again and talk about their issues.

The autochannel.com reported that Nick Carey and David Bailey writing for Reuters reported that the United Auto Workers and General Motors have reached a tentative contract on Wednesday.  The said contract ends the national strike of about 73,000 workers.  According to the report, the deal includes a groundbreaking health care trust fund. That is surely much important than Lexus floor mats.

Ron Gettelfinger said that the union members will resume working on General Motors assembly facilities Wednesday.  This announcement puts an end to the first strike against the Detroit automaker since 1970.  It is a good thing that this is resolved quickly.  As Michelle Krebs of Edmunds’ AutoObserver.com puts it: "A strike is good for no one: not for GM, the UAW, the Detroit area and other GM towns, nor the global economy. But, the economy and car market are relatively soft, and GM has a reasonable stockpile of inventory – companywide, the average is 87 days’ worth, above the industry norm of 60-65 days."

General Motors who owns Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, Saturn, Cadillac, Daewoo, GMC, Holden, Hummer, Vauxhall, Saab, and Opel will benefit too from the agreement.  According to the automaker, the deal will increase their competitiveness in manufacturing. General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner admitted that the discussion is the most difficult in the history of the union and the automaker.  "There’s no question this was one of the most complex and difficult bargaining sessions in the history of the GM/UAW relationship," said Wagoner

The UAW is also happy with the deal.  Gettelfinger said:  "I think our retirees will be exceptionally pleased with this contract and for our active membership, there will be some changes, but overall they will be very, very pleased with the outcome of this negotiation and the job security that is associated with this."