The longest General Motors strike in history is over and workers in Bedford returned to work over the weekend.

United Auto Workers union voted in favor of a four-year labor deal to end the walkout.

The United Auto Workers Union released a statement announcing UAW General Motors members ratified the 2019 Collective Bargaining Agreement Friday.

The rank-and-file members voted 57 percent in favor of the deal, according to the union. Locally, the 703 members of UAW Local 440 voted 60 percent to 40 percent not to approve the terms of the agreement, according to union president Kevin Hutchinson.

The vote ends a painful work stoppage that has lasted six weeks, costing GM nearly $2 billion in lost production and employees nearly $1 billion in lost wages.

The strike by nearly 50,000 hourly GM workers started Sept. 16.

It is the largest against a US business since the last GM strike 12 years ago. But that strike was over in less than three days. This strike is the longest auto industry work stoppage in more than 20 years and the longest nationwide auto strike in 50 years.

The final deal would give striking workers four small wins and one major loss.

Workers are guaranteed a 3 percent pay raise and a 4 percent lump-sum increase in alternating years. 

Employees got the same result the last time they negotiated a contract in 2015, without going on strike.

GM agreed to lift the $12,000 cap on profit-sharing, so there’s no limit to the cut workers can get from GM’s profits.

Right now, they each get $1,000 for every $1 billion the company earns.  

The Detroit-Hamtramck factory was one of four slated for closure before the strike, it will now stay open, and GM will build electric trucks and vans there.

That’s a $3 billion investment in 2,225 jobs.

The company will also invest $1 billion in two other factories — one in Tennessee and another in Michigan — to build mid-size SUVs.

There is now a process for temporary workers to become permanent employees after three years on the job and for newer hires to earn the full pay rate in four years instead of eight.

That top wage rate was increased from about $30 to $32 per hour.

The cost of workers’ health care plans, among the lowest in the nation, was left untouched.

The company had announced plans to increase premiums but backed down during the strike.

Permanent workers will also get an $11,000 signing bonus and temporary workers will get $4,500, basically covering the wages they lost during the strike

Union negotiators were unable to get GM to move car production from Mexico to the Lordstown, Ohio plant, which once produced the Chevy Cruze, which was perhaps the most sensitive issue on the table.

It was terrible news for the 1,400 workers who have since been laid off – several hundred of them have accepted transfers to other factories.

GM officials have promised to open an electric car battery factory near the Lordstown plant. That’s not what the union wanted, though, because it would only employ a few hundred people at lower wages.

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating an off-road vehicle (ORV) accident that occurred early this morning in Blackford County. At approximately 3:30 a.m., Todd P. Clancy, 56, of Fairmount, was operating a Polaris Ranger side-by-side vehicle when it rolled over in a field outside of Hartford City.

Clancy was seriously injured in the accident and was transported by a family member to IU Health Blackford Hospital. From there, he was transported to IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis where he was being treated for severe neck and back injuries.

Alcohol is believed to have been a factor in the accident. Clancy was not wearing a helmet or seatbelt at the time of the accident. 

All charges are merely accusations, and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Indiana Conservation Officers remind the public to not ride ORVs while impaired, and of the importance of wearing protective equipment.

On October 23, 2019, Deputies Johnney Coomer and Kenton Makowsky went to an address in Scottsburg in an attempt to serve an outstanding arrest warrant.  Upon arrival Charles Allen, 42, of Austin was arrested for an outstanding warrant for Failure to Comply. 

On October 24, 2019, Deputy Kenton Makowsky and Reserve Deputy William Morris conducted a traffic stop in Austin.  An investigation led to the arrest of Glen Fox, 18, of Austin for Possession of Cocaine or a Schedule I or II Narcotic Drug, Possession of Marijuana and Trafficking with an Inmate Controlled Substance, Deadly Weapon or Cell Phone. 

On October 24, 2019, Deputies Johnney Coomer and Kenton Makowsky went to an address in Lexington in an attempt to serve an outstanding arrest warrant.  Upon arrival Andrew Hardin, 31, of Lexington was arrested for an outstanding warrant for Failure to Appear.  Andrew Hardin was also wanted for an out of county warrant. 

On October 24, 2019, Deputy Kenton Makowsky and Reserve Deputy Cory Hulsizer responded to an address on Coffee Pot Road for suspicious circumstances.  Upon arrival, an investigation was conducted which led to the arrest of one male.  Tyson Riley, 18, of Austin was arrested for Theft Less than $750 and Auto Theft.  Deputies were assisted by the Austin Police Department and the Scottsburg City Police Department. 

On October 23^rd, Detectives with the Indiana State Police-Crimes Against Children and Cyber Crimes Units arrested a Seymour, Indiana man on possession of child pornography charges after two search warrants were served at Jackson County residences. 

The investigation began when the Indiana State Police received a cybertip from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children.  As a result of the tip, Indiana State Police Detectives served search warrants at 10992 North County Road 525 East, Seymour, Indiana and 832 South Pine Street, Seymour, Indiana. 

As a result of the investigation, Dylan James Hatfield, age 18, who had lived at both residences, was arrested on ten counts of Possession of Child Pornography, Level 6 Felony.  Hatfield was transported to the Jackson County Jail where he was incarcerated pending his initial appearance in the Jackson County Circuit Court.

Indiana State Police Detectives were assisted by Trooper Randel Miller, ISP-Versailles Post, and officers with the Seymour Police Department.