FLINT, MI -- General Motors Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra rejoined contract talks with the United Auto Workers Tuesday and union leaders from around the country have been called to Detroit.

A source familiar with the negotiations told MLive-The Flint Journal that Barra joined negotiations as the two sides continued talks aimed at ending the 30-day strike.

Barra’s personal involvement in the talks comes two days before the UAW National General Motors Council is scheduled to meet in Detroit, a group that typically is called into action after a tentative agreement is reached on a new contract.

“It’s somewhat hopeful. If (they are just being called in for an update), it’s an expensive update,” said Kristin Dziczek, vice president of Industry, Labor & Economics at the Center for Automotive Research. “Generally, when they reach a tentative agreement, they call the council in.”

Although there’s no tentative agreement yet, Barra is in a position to sign off on any economic parts of a new deal.

The CEO’s involvement in negotiations last week appeared to jump start the talks, a source familiar with negotiations told MLive-The Flint Journal.

The UAW council that’s scheduled to meet Thursday includes all local union presidents, chairpersons, vice presidents, financial secretaries and recording secretaries.

More than 49,000 GM workers are represented by the UAW, more than 17,000 of whom are in Michigan.

Speaking Monday, Oct. 15, in Flint, Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist said the administration of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer hopes for a resolution and said Barra’s involvement could be a key.

“We’re supporting the workers here who are stepping up and wanted to be respected and protected at work ... we just want to make sure everyone now comes together. It’s been going on for a long time. It’s been hard on everyone. We’re ready to have her to move back to the table to negotiate something so we can wrap things up," Gilchrist said.

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- Flint Journal writer Zahra Ahmad contributed to this report.