FAYETTEVILLE — The strike against the Fayetteville Kelly-Springfield tire plant is over. United Steel Workers members voted to accept a contract proposed earlier this week. The 2,000 striking workers had been out for two weeks.

Workers met Wednesday afternoon at the Cumberland County Civic Center to hear details of the contract. After the meeting, the mood was upbeat and many said they thought the tentative agreement would be accepted. They began voting at midnight Wednesday.

This is the first time there has ever been a walkout at the Fayetteville plant, and many were concerned that the strike would go on long enough to hurt workers and the community financially.

The contract gives workers a little more pay and better benefits. It is aligned with contracts at two other Kelly-Springfield plants. In the year 2003, all three of the contracts will come due at the same time.

Voting on the current contract ended at noon Thursday.