A new contract has been ratified between Chrysler and workers. The future of the controversial contract was up in the air until the very last minute with a thin majority of workers voting for ratification. 51 percent of skilled trade workers and 56 percent of production workers voted in favor of the contract. The approval came after a six hour strike on October 10. One of the union’s negotiators, Bill Parker, had come out against the contract and strongly urged workers to vote it down. He was concerned that the contract didn’t defend union principles and gave up too many concessions, including a lack of job protection. The new contract covers 45,000 active Chrysler workers and 78,000 retirees. The UAW will now focus on negotiations with Ford Motor Company.