DETROIT (WWJ) -- A deal has been struck to end the three-month long strike at an oil refinery in Southwest Detroit.
Teamster union members at Marathon Petroleum's Detroit refinery have voted to ratify a new seven-year agreement which will end the strike and get workers back on the job.
The new deal includes wage increases as well maintaining pensions and Teamster healthcare, according to reports.
Other workers had been filling in since the strike began back on September 4 of this year.
At that time, Steve Hicks, president of the Local, told WWJ Newsradio 950's Mike Campbell that they were fighting a "living wage." Workers also expressing concerns over safety at the refinery.
"As you know, inflation went sky high since the pandemic," Hicks said. "All our members kept this plant safe throughout the pandemic, risking their life coming here every day."
Specifically, Hicks said workers were asking for a 6% raise to keep up with inflation.
It's not clear if they got the 6%, or how much they did get, as further details of the contract were not released.
A statement released by Marathon Petroleum on Monday confirmed the new contract.
"Marathon’s Detroit refinery is pleased to have reached a new, mutually beneficial 7-year collective bargaining agreement with Teamsters Local 283, which was ratified by our union-represented employees on December 14. The process to safely welcome our employees back to the refinery is already in progress, and we look forward to their return as we continue working together to safely produce transportation fuels for our communities."
Union members had been working without a contract since January.