The vote was 56 percent in favor of the four-year pact among production workers, and 51 percent in favor among skilled trades workers, the union announced. Ninety-four percent of office and clerical workers voted in favor of the agreement, and 79 percent of UAW-represented Chrysler engineering workers approved the contract.

The union reached a tentative agreement with Chrysler on Oct. 10, following a six-hour nationwide strike against the company.

"Our members had to face some tough choices, and we had a solid, democratic debate about this contract," UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said. "Now we\'re going to come together as a union -- and now it\'s on the company to move ahead, increase their market share and continue to build great cars and trucks here in the U.S."

"There\'s no question this was a difficult set of negotiations during difficult times for the U.S. auto industry," said UAW Vice President General Holiefield, who heads the union\'s Chrysler Department. "But with the support of our membership and local leadership, we have an agreement that secures jobs and wages and protects health care and pension benefits."

The new contract covers approximately 45,000 active workers at Chrysler and more than 55,000 Chrysler retirees and 23,000 surviving spouses. It will expire on Sept. 14, 2011.

The UAW and General Motors previously inked a contract that turns over administration of the workers\' health care benefits to the union. Talks have now started with Ford Motor Company, the last of the "Big Three" U.S. automakers.

This article is adapted from a news release that appeared on the UAW website, www.uaw.org