Mack Trucks fired back at the striking United Auto Workers, saying it is “not prepared to jeopardize the company” to meet the union’s new economic demands.
Talks resumed Thursday in the 11-day-old strike by 3,900 workers in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida. The union’s new demands did not sit well with the company.
“Unfortunately, the new UAW economic demands are completely unrealistic,” Mack President Stephen Roy said in a news release late Thursday. “We’ve already shown that we’re prepared to provide our employees with significantly improved wages. But we are not prepared to jeopardize the company.”
UAW-represented employees voted 73% against a tentative agreement endorsed by local bargainers and UAW International officials.
Mack: UAW ‘ignoring three months of good-faith bargaining’
The demands “seemingly return to day one of negotiations and ignore three months of good-faith bargaining between the parties,” Roy said.
The strike began Oct. 8 at six Volvo Group facilities. They include the Lower Macungie, Pennsylvania, assembly plant that makes all Mack heavy-duty commercial trucks in North America. Mack is part of Volvo Group North America.
An engine plant in Hagerstown, Maryland, and parts distribution centers in Baltimore and Jacksonville, Florida, also are on strike.
Knock-on strike effects at Volvo avoided so far
Volvo Trucks North America (VTNA) production in Dublin, Virginia, is so far unaffected. The assembly complex in New River Valley (NRV) makes heavy-duty Volvo VNL and VNR models. The plant also builds the battery-powered VNR Electric day cab.
“Thus far, we’ve managed to minimize the impact to our aftermarket parts support,” Mack spokesperson Kimberly Pupillo said in an email. “The strike has not affected NRV production, but could if it is prolonged.”
A 12-day UAW walkout at Mack in 2019 forced VTNA to halt production because of a lack of engines. The slowing state of Class 8 tractor demand may spare the plant from downtime this time.
“Current weak freight fundamentals and largely sated pent-up tractor market demand make the case for caution,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT Research president and senior analyst.
A nonunion Mack medium-duty truck plant in Roanoke, Virginia, is unaffected by the strike. The company builds Class 6 and 7 MD Series trucks there.
Mack hoped to stay out of UAW skirmish with Detroit Three
Mack wanted to fly below the radar in its union negotiations and stay clear of a UAW strike against the Detroit Three automakers that began Sept. 15.
Now it appears the union, encouraged by defeated Mack worker and unsuccessful UAW International presidential candidate Will Lehman and a Socialist rank-and-file committee, has intertwined the Mack strike with brinkmanship in Detroit. There are 34,000 of 146,000 UAW members striking selected GM, Ford and Stellantis plants while other plants are operating.
UAW International President Sean Fain visited Local 677 in Pennsylvania last weekend. Lehman, meanwhile, walked picket lines in the Detroit area.
Mack said it looks forward to “more realistic proposals” from the union when the two sides resume talks on Monday.
Related articles:
Mack Trucks and striking UAW resume talks Thursday
UAW employees will strike at Mack Trucks after rejecting contract
Commentary: How Socialist agitating helped tank Mack-UAW deal
Click for more FreightWaves articles by Alan Adler.
M. Jones
They already make $5 more per hour than volvo trucks, which owns mack. Cmon down to our plant and work for our wages, you’ll appreciate what you have already. Cola? We haven’t gotten that for years!
Waldopepper12
If u owned own a company n u begged workers 4 consessions u got m now won’t give e back what u were lent bot given then U R A SCUMBAG!!!!!
Ken Kramer
As of 10/21/23 2:35 pm picket line’s still maned, signs still up, tents still up, this is at plant, warehouses, storage yards, in Macungie Pa. At the WaWa across the street ran into two Mack people we know. As far as they know…. strike still on.
Megan
I understand everybody’s drive and need to make more money and have better conditions in the workplace however this UAW strike has forced hundreds thousands of families out of work out of their homes and regardless of the outcome of the strike these families are impacted the most we don’t stand to gain anything from the strike we just keep losing and it’s not fair. This strike only benefits a small number of people that are a part of the Union but completely decimates anyone in the auto street that is not part of the Union you are affecting thousands upon thousands of American families and that is ridiculous. It should not be the ruin of many for the benefit of few
W.D.B lll
Keep it being made in America. We all get that. Loyal to your workers. We appreciate it. I’m an ex auto worker. I see what is going on. It’s time to move to a state that doesn’t deal with unions. I understand the importance of their place in labor. It’s time to break the back of the UAW. Anyone can see that they aren’t for the people. There was a website that show what the local business was giving discounts for striking workers : free admission to strip clubs, half off on all weed purchases. Free food from the local food bank that they probably never donated to. Strike pay. Food is good . If you are being given or handed a good contract then the Big boss can take his greedy hands out of their( the workers) bank accounts. Greed doesn’t need to be rewarded. The reward is a job, paycheck, other good things. Not permanent unemployment by the union choice.
Gary Darden
Unrealistic is the true key word for the UAW demands. The union has lost its mind, and turned down great offers.
William Creen
Oh well. I’ll just by an American owned Peterbilt
Mack issues maybe
Pulling a thermoking rail trailer that has a train hitch by the license plate with a mack admiral big sleeper with tri pack , I only can axle out 42000 pound loads. Sliding the 5th wheel forward made the reefer smash the air conditioner box in the middle back of sleeper. Now it doesn’t work anymore.