ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - After over six long weeks of striking, United Auto Workers in Wentzville, Missouri are closer to heading back to work at the factory.
General Motors reached a tentative agreement with UAW early Monday morning, capping off a five-day stretch where alongside General Motors, UAW reached deal with Stellantis and Ford.
The tentative deal that would last four years and eight months and it would raise general wages by 25% for top assembly plant workers along with adding the cost of living adjustments that would bring their pay increases to over 30% by the time the contracts end on April 30, 2028.
Workers would also get an immediate 11% pay raise upon ratification.
The deal still needs to be ratified by General Motors workers, but for those in Wentzville, Missouri -- who were one of the firsts to go on strike -- they're excited to head back to work soon.
"Excitement," said Stephen Celeste, a strike captain. "I think we're all ready to head back to work."
Celeste says they first got word on a potential tentative deal from their worker's cousin in Indiana right before the media did.
For UAW workers in Wentzville, the tentative deal will set a path forth to end the longest labor strike the workers have experienced at the plant. Wentzville previously went on strike back in 2019, with that strike lasting 40 days.