The labor contract dispute between Mack Trucks and the United Autoworkers Union is coming to a head.
In a letter sent to members of UAW Local 677, which comprises Mack Truck workers at the company’s Lower Macungie Township plant, the union’s negotiating committee said that after a Nov. 7 meeting with Mack representatives, the two sides are at an impasse in negotiations on a master contract.
“The union put formal requests across the table to address members’ needs,” the letter stated. “The company rejected all our proposals.”
The company gave the union its last, best and final offer, marking the end of negotiations and an upcoming vote by the union on the offer, set for Wednesday.
“If the master is voted down, there will be no $3,500 ratification bonus and the company will implement their last offer,” the letter stated. “We will still be on strike.”
However, with no more negotiating and union members still on strike, according to the letter, the company will begin to hire replacements, and union members will lose their jobs unless they cross the picket line. The company will also cut off striking workers’ insurance benefits on Dec. 1.
“The master proposal that we are presenting is the same proposal that was presented to our membership for the first vote,” the letter stated. Over 70% of the union voted against the proposal, which resulted in the beginning of the ongoing strike on Oct. 9. In late October, the company called the union’s proposals “unrealistic,” though Monday’s letter from the union notes that it was able to negotiate some significant changes to the local contract.
In addition to the Lower Macungie plant’s local 677, there are UAW members at Mack Truck facilities in both Maryland and Florida.
The vote is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.
Connor Lagore may be reached at [email protected].
Credit: Source link
