WENTZVILLE, Mo. (KMOX) — Roughly two-thirds of union members at the Wentzville General Motors plant have voted in favor of the company's latest contract proposal. United Auto Workers Local 2250 Secretary-Treasurer Darren Gilley says about 63 percent of production workers voted in favor, 70 percent of those in skilled trades did so.
It's still too early to tell whether the strike will end, though. Other UAW chapters nationwide still have to vote on the contract.
That contract promises, among other things, a $1.5 billion investment in the Wentzville plant as it prepares to build GM's "next-generation" mid-sized pickup.
KMOX's Kevin Killeen went to Wentzville Thursday to talk to workers still picketing outside the plant as they huddled together under umbrellas and warmed their hands over a fire pit.
Workers that spoke to KMOX seemed optimistic they'll be back to work Monday.
Workers have been getting $275 a week from the union, but many say they've had to turn to food pantries to eat. If the contract is ratified, permanent workers would get an $11,000 signing bonus, and temporary GM workers would get $4,500. The proposed contract would also give workers a $2 an hour raise spread out over four years.