The United Auto Workers and Ford reached a tentative deal on Wednesday night that will raise union members’ wages 25 per cent over the four-year agreement, following a sweeping 40-day strike against the traditional Big Three carmakers.

“For months, we’ve been saying record profits mean record contracts,” said UAW president Shawn Fain. “And UAW family, our Stand-Up strike has delivered.”

Ford said it was “pleased” to have reached the deal and was focused on restarting its plants in Kentucky, Michigan and Illinois that were shut down after workers walked off the job. The union called for Ford’s 16,600 workers on strike to return to work in advance of the vote by membership. About 29,000 workers at Stellantis and General Motors will remain on strike.