(Detroit) Union workers at Mack Trucks have voted against a five-year tentative agreement with the company and plan to strike at 7 a.m. Monday, the United Auto Workers union announced.
Union President Shawn Fain said in a letter to Volvo Trucks, Mack’s parent company, that 73 percent of workers voted against the deal when results were tallied Sunday.
The UAW represents about 4,000 Mack workers in three states. Union leaders reached an agreement in principle on the deal on October 1.
The agreement included a salary increase of 19% over the life of the contract and 10% upon ratification. There was also a $3,500 ratification bonus, no increase in weekly health care contributions, an increase in annual lump sum payments for retirees, and a $1,000 annual 401(k) lump sum to offset health care costs. health insurance for employees who do not have post-retirement health insurance.
Fain said in his letter to Volvo Trucks’ labor relations manager that employees working early Monday will leave the plants after completing necessary tasks to avoid damage to company equipment.
The workers are located in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida.
Mr. Fain wrote that UAW members and workers across the country are seeking their fair share of wages and benefits. “The union remains committed to exploring all options to reach an agreement, but we are clearly not there yet,” he argued.
The company and union are still divided over work hours, health and safety, pensions, health care, prescription drug coverage, overtime and other issues, he said. writing.
The contract may have been canceled because of the high expectations Fain set during negotiations with the three Detroit automakers. In those negotiations, the UAW asked for a 36 percent increase over four years, while Ford offered 23 percent and the other two companies are at 20 percent.
The union went on strike at some factories run by General Motors, Ford and Jeep maker Stellantis on September 15. It started with one assembly plant for each company, then expanded to 38 GM and Stellantis parts warehouses. Two additional assembly plants at Ford and GM were added later.
The union decided Friday not to expand strikes to other factories for now after GM agreed to include its electric vehicle battery plants in the UAW’s national contract, ensuring they would be unionized . The union also reported progress with the three automakers.
A message was left seeking comment from a Volvo Trucks spokesperson.
