DETROIT — The United Auto Workers Union says its members working for Ford Motor Co. have approved contract changes that include freezing wages and cutting other benefits in a move aimed at helping the automaker remain competitive.

The approved agreement also ends the jobs bank program and lets Ford make payments in stock to a union-run trust for retiree health care.

The union says 59 percent of production workers and 58 percent of skilled-trades workers voted for the agreement.

Ford is not seeking government funding and is the first U.S. automaker to come to an agreement with the union.