MEMBERS of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union in the United States have voted to accept the outcome of negotiations on a new contract with General Motors.

This makes the company  the first of the Big Three Detroit car makers to have a deal ratified by UAW members.

In a closer than expected outcome announced on Thursday, the agreement was backed by 54 per cent of the 36,000 union members who cast votes in the ballot on ending the six weeks of targeted walkouts at General Motors, Ford and Stellantis.

But support for the contract reportedly has a big lead among workers at the other two companies. 

Ratification was leading at Ford by more than 10,000 votes, with 66.7 per cent of ballots in favour. 

At Stellantis, the lead was over 5,700, with 66.5 per cent voting for the deal, according to the UAW website.

Voting will continue at Ford early on Saturday, with only two large factories in the Detroit area and some smaller facilities left to be counted.

At Stellantis, three Detroit-area factories were the only large plants yet to vote, with tallies expected to be complete by next Tuesday.

In a livestream address to union members, UAW president Shawn Fain said: “Already, thousands of non-union auto workers are inspired by our victory and starting to organise. Non-union automakers like Toyota are raising wages because they know their workers are ready to stand up. It goes far beyond the Big Three.

Mr Fain praised the Morning Star and other left newspapers for their support for the workers’ struggle, saying: “The foreign press and union press got the word out to every corner of the globe.

“These important acts of international solidarity undoubtedly sent a message to the companies that we have power, that the working class is ready to stand up everywhere.”