A United Auto Workers local at General Motors Co.'s assembly plant in Fort Wayne, Indiana, told workers Monday it reached an agreement with the automaker to prevent what could have been a costly strike over issues at the facility.

The parties agreed on several items to avoid a strike at the plant, which local leadership threatened after GM laid off part-time temporary workers and then, according to the union, changed seniority members' duties and had management working hourly jobs. At the end of October, a majority of workers at the plant, which produces Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra light-duty trucks, authorized the local to take strike action if necessary.

In recent meetings, the company agreed to put seniority members back in the positions they were in and to move management off of hourly jobs, among other resolutions, according to a Local 2209 newsletter sent Monday that was obtained by The Detroit News.

"They could fall backwards on everything they agreed to," said UAW Local 2209 Shop Chairman Rich LeTourneau. "I've seen that before, when they think the pressure's off" and go back to "bad habits. That's what I hope doesn't happen."

"I'm guessing that they're going to be sincere and follow the agreement," he added.

GM declined to comment on the agreement. The automaker had previously said the "the issues raised by the Local Union are not strikable."

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