UAW, Ford reach tentative deal

A $6,000 signing bonus for most workers and retention or creation of 12,000 jobs highlight a tentative union deal with Ford Motor Co., officials said. The United Auto Workers deal with Ford, which still needs to stand up to a rank and file vote, includes a company commitment to invest $16 billion in new products, a figure that tells union workers the company is committed to future jobs. Ford also committed to hiring 12,000 workers, although 7,000 of those were previously announced, The Detroit News reported Tuesday. The Detroit Free Press said the 12,000 jobs were slated for the United States. The new hires would be paid the entry level wage and be put on line before the end of 2012. "One of the areas we really concentrated on is jobs," said Marty Mulloy, Ford's vice president of labor affairs, who called the negotiations, "professional." The deal requires ratification by 41,000 workers, many of whom have felt this would be contract with generous numbers in it, given Ford has earned $14.2 billion since 2008, posting nine consecutive profitable quarters, the Free Press said. More details are expected by the end of the day, as UAW officials are expected to brief local chapter presidents and chairmen on the contract Tuesday.