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Thousands of unionized workers at Mack Trucks walked off their jobs Monday after overwhelmingly rejecting a proposed five-year contract.
The deal, which covers about 4,000 employees in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Florida, was rejected with 73 percent of the vote This was announced by United Auto Workers late Sunday. It would have increased wages by 20 percent over the life of the contract — starting with a 10 percent increase in the first year — and frozen health insurance premiums.
“The members have spoken, and as the highest authority in our union, they have the final say,” UAW President Shawn Fain said in the strike notice.
The union remains committed to reaching an agreement, he said, but “obviously we’re not there yet.” Fain said there are still a number of issues, including provisions on pay, work schedules, benefits and health and safety.
Mack President Stephen Roy said the company was “surprised and disappointed” by the vote, noting that union officials called the tentative agreement “historic” when it was announced Oct. 2.
“We are committed to the collective bargaining process and remain confident that we can reach an agreement that provides competitive wages and benefits for our employees and their families while securing our future as a competitive company and stable long-term employer,” Roy said.
In a negotiation update on Sunday, the company also appeared to reject comparisons with other automakers. “In light of other current negotiations, it is important to emphasize that Mack’s market, business and competitors are very different from those of passenger car manufacturers,” the company said.
The UAW is not expanding the strike, citing progress in talks with Ford and GM
Since September 15, the UAW has been conducting targeted strikes against the three major automakers: General Motors, Ford and Chrysler parent company Stellantis. Recent developments in these negotiations may have raised the expectations of union workers at Mack, as Ford agreed to raise its own wages to 23 percent within four years. That offer, which also placed GM battery manufacturing facilities under the national union contract, was enough to prevent the union from expanding the strikes, but not enough to end them.
Mack is best known for its semi-trucks, but also makes construction equipment and fire trucks and has a defense division that produces military-grade construction vehicles. It belongs to the Swedish manufacturer Volvo.