UAW AND FORD REACH TENTATIVE AGREEMENT

From The New York Times:

The United Automobile Workers union reached a tentative agreement with the Ford Motor Company early this morning after a 41-hour marathon bargaining session, completing a series of new contracts with the American auto companies.

No details of the deal were released, but it is expected to resemble contracts reached earlier this fall for General Motors and Chrysler LLC.

Unlike the G.M. and Chrysler contracts, the agreement at Ford was reached without a strike. Analysts say that Ford, which lost $12.6 billion last year, is the weakest of the Detroit auto companies.

"Our bargaining committee came through for our active and retired members," the U.A.W.'s president, Ron Gettelfinger, said in a statement. He said that its bargaining team had "encouraged Ford to invest in product and people while addressing the economic needs of our active and retired members."

"We face enormous challenges – and we also have enormous potential," said U.A.W. Vice President Bob King, who directs the union's National Ford Department. "Our goals for this contract were to win new product and investment, to enhance job security and protect seniority – and we made progress in all these areas."

Any job guarantees will be closely scrutinized by union members at Ford, who have watched G.M. and Chrysler cut jobs since their new contracts were reached.

Ford had no immediate comment. Union leaders will review the contract next week, before it is presented to members for a vote.