Topline
Workers represented by the United Auto Workers union rejected a tentative contract offered by Volvo’s Mack Trucks and voted in favor of work stoppage on Sunday night, amid a nationwide strike by nearly 25,000 auto workers at factories run by the big three Detroit auto companies.
Nearly 4,000 unionized workers from Mack Trucks’ plants in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Florida will … [+]
Key Facts
Nearly 4,000 unionized workers from Mack Trucks’ plants in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Florida will go on strike starting Monday after 73% of them voted against the tentative deal offered by the Volvo-owned company.
The company said the tentative deal offered to the workers included a 10% general wage hike in year one for all employees along with a “ compounded 20 percent general wage increase over five years.”
The truck maker’s deal also promised a $3,500 if the deal was ratified on the first vote and promised no increase in healthcare premiums for the duration of the contract.
In its strike notification, the union raised multiple outstanding issues with regard to the contract negotiations including wage hikes, cost of living allowances, job security, and pensions among others.
The union said it “remains committed” to exploring all options needed to reach an agreement but said “we are clearly not there yet.”
Crucial Quote
In a statement, UAW president Shawn Fain said: “I’m inspired to see UAW members at Mack holding out for a better deal, and ready to stand up and walk off the job to win it.”
Chief Critic
Commenting on the strike the truck maker said: “We’re surprised and disappointed that the UAW has chosen to strike, which we feel is unnecessary. The company clearly demonstrated its commitment to good faith bargaining by arriving at a tentative agreement.” The company also suggested that the issue here was very different from the ongoing negotiations between the UAW and the Detroit big three, noting: “Given other negotiations in the news, it’s important to emphasize that Mack’s market, business, and competitors are very different from those of the passenger car makers.”
Further Reading
Mack Trucks Reaches Tentative Deal With Auto Workers Union To Avoid Strike (Forbes)
Autoworkers Expand Strike At Ford And GM—But Not Stellantis (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2023/10/09/nearly-4000-mack-truck-workers-to-go-on-strike-after-union-votes-down-tentative-contract/