2,500 manufacturing workers of the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 218 will vote on a new contract offer today. If the contract is approved, it will most likely mean the end of a long five-week strike at Bell Helicopter. The strike began several plants in the Dallas, Texas area after employees rejected a proposed three-year contract in June, because of issues over increases in medical costs and a controversial plan to outsource custodial work. The union was presented with a new offer yesterday, after the fifth round of negotiations between Bell and the UAW Local. Neither side would provide details about the proposed contract until after the vote is finished, though a Bell spokesman described it as 'comprehensive.' It is unclear whether or not the vote is expected to reject or approve the new contract.
See "Union vote on contract would end strike at Bell", Forbes.com, July 21, 2009