Ford has struck a tentative deal with unions to bring an end to a strike at its US plants which has lasted for almost six weeks. 

The United Auto Workers (UAW) union has reached a settlement with the motor giant which would hand Ford staff a 25pc wage increase over the next four years. 

Initially, workers’ wages will rise by 11pc. 

It follows weeks of strikes across US car plants led by the UAW union. Ford and the other two of the “Big Three” Detroit car makers - General Motors and Chrysler parent Stellantis - have been hammered by the walkouts, with a total of 45,000 workers having joined strikes since mid-September. 

UAW president Shawn Fain said Ford had “delivered” by reaching the tentative deal. In a post on Facebook, Mr Fain said: “We asked Ford to pony up and they did.”

The union is recommending Ford’s 16,000 staff on strike return to work ahead of a vote on the deal. 

Mr Fain said: “We’re going back to work at Ford to keep the pressure on Stellantis and GM. The last thing they want is for Ford to get back to full capacity while they lag and mess around.”

The agreement still needs to be ratified by union members to go ahead. 

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