HIGH POINT, N.C. - UAW members at Thomas Built Buses on this week unanimously voted in favor of a new four-year agreement covering 1,049 workers.

According to a UAW statement, Local 5287 members ratified the agreement by an 80 percent margin. The contract, which expires on Oct. 10, 2014, includes pay progression scale improvements, wage increases, a new vacation scale and health and safety improvements.

“This contract is good for workers, good for Thomas Built Buses and good for North Carolina because the improved benefits for workers will protect and help maintain stability in this community and state,” said UAW Vice President General Holiefield, director of the UAW Heavy Truck and Engine Department.

“It’s no surprise that workers at Thomas Built Buses want to continue to build on the improvements they have gained with a union contract and as UAW members,” said Gary Casteel, director of UAW Region 8, which includes North Carolina and other southeastern states. “These hardworking men and women remain committed to building great buses for their customers and contributing to the manufacturing success of the company.”

Meanwhile, last week UAW and Navistar reached a tentative four-year agreement.  UAW said that no details of the tentative agreement would be communicated publically prior to the completion of the ratification vote.