LORDSTOWN, Ohio - UAW leaders in Detroit have declared that a contract covering local issues with Local 1112 in Lordstown has been ratified, even though skilled trades people voted against the pact.

A letter from UAW Secretary-Treasurer Gary Casteel posted by online by the UAW says that the union's International Executive board last week voted unanimously to declare that the agreement is ratified.

This past February, UAW Local 1112 announced that their overall membership had voted to accept local contract terms by a vote of 76% to 24%.

That vote breaks down to 78% of the local's production workers voting for approval, but 55% of the smaller skilled trades unit voting against ratification.

The letter from the international union did not elaborate on the skilled trades opposition to the pact, but gave instructions to local union President Glenn Johnson to take action to implement the agreement.

The local UAW agreements cover issues not addressed by the new national contract ratified last year.

21 News left a phone messages with Glenn Johnson and shop chairman Dan Morgan seeking more information on whether or not the issues posed by the skilled trade’s workers had been resolved.

As of 3 p.m. Monday, neither union official had returned our calls.