The ventilators will be delivered to the national stockpile by August. The contract, worth nearly $500 million, is the first ventilator order placed using the Defense Production Act.
General Motors has already started working with a ventilator company, Ventec, to help it expand production of the essential medical equipment. Now it might start building the devices itself.
The UAW, the autoworker's union, had been pushing for a two-week shutdown because of worker concerns. Plants will be shut down at least through March 30.
The two companies expect to create more than 1,100 jobs in northeast Ohio. The new plant will be built near GM's Lordstown facility that was shuttered earlier this year.
Jones has been the target of a federal probe of alleged corruption in the UAW. The union is also linked to an alleged bribery scheme, according to a lawsuit filed by GM against rival Fiat Chrysler.
On Friday, the United Auto Workers and its nearly 50,000 GM employees signaled an end to the six-week stalemate, voting to OK a deal that the labor union struck with the automaker earlier this month.
Unions and their supporters around the country are assessing whether the United Auto Workers strike against General Motors is a sign of renewed labor power.
As negotiations continue between the automaker and the union, workers express what motivates them to join the picket line. "One fight, we all fight," one worker says.
General Motors and the United Auto Workers sit down soon to negotiate a new contract. Recession fears and slowing sales are concerns, along with allegations of corruption among UAW leaders.