General Motors Corp. could be producing its hot-selling Chevrolet Malibu in full force again by the end of the week, following the news late Tuesday night that the automaker had reached a tentative agreement with the UAW local in Kansas City, Kan.

Separately, GM told UAW members nationally that they would get less pay when they can’t work because their factory has been idled — prompting some workers to retire rather than wait for work.

Both GM and UAW l Local 31 in Kansas, which went on strike May 5, confirmed the deal late Tuesday. The local labor contract must be ratified by a vote of the local’s approximately 2,500 or so members to take effect.

“GM and UAW Local 31 have reached a tentative agreement on a new local labor contract,” said GM S spokesman Dan Flores said. “We’re pleased that we’ve reached this.”
Some analysts had speculated that the UAW locals led their members out on strike to put pressure on GM to force a deal between supplier American Axle & Manufacturing Inc. and the UAW. The UAW has been on strike against the supplier for three months. It reached a tentative agreement late last week and is holding ratification votes through Thursday. GM has provided more than $200 million to facilitate that deal.

UAW leaders and members have said the strikes were purely about local issues.
UAW Local 31 President Jeff Manning has said the Kansas City strike was primarily about seniority rights for workers in that plant.