Union Workers at Mack Trucks Reject Contract, Prepare to Strike

Union workers at Mack Trucks, owned by Volvo Group, have overwhelmingly rejected a proposed five-year contract deal, leading to an upcoming strike. The United Auto Workers (UAW) announced that approximately 73% of the 4,000 workers in Pennsylvania, Florida, and Maryland voted against the agreement.

This rejection follows a trend of labor actions in various industries, including auto, shipping, and healthcare, where unions have used strikes to negotiate better contracts. Recent polls have shown that the majority of Americans support the demands of these unions.

The proposed contract at Mack Trucks included a 19% pay increase, a $3,500 ratification bonus, improved retirement benefits, additional vacation time for some employees, and a reduction in the time needed to reach top pay. However, the UAW members at Mack Trucks believe that a better deal can be achieved.

UAW President Shawn Fain expressed support for the workers’ decision, stating, “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.”

Mack President Stephen Roy expressed surprise and disappointment at the union’s decision to strike, emphasizing that the company had demonstrated its commitment to good faith bargaining. Mack, a major manufacturer of medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks in North America, is part of the only heavy-truck manufacturing group that assembles all its trucks and engines in the United States.

The UAW intends to contact Mack to schedule further bargaining sessions, indicating their commitment to exploring all options for reaching an agreement. Mack, in turn, remains confident that a resolution can be reached through the collective bargaining process.

While the UAW has been on a targeted strike against facilities of the Detroit Three automakers since September 15, they have stated that they will not expand the strikes at this time due to progress in negotiations. Ford has recently increased its proposed wage hike to 23% through early 2028, potentially resulting in pay increases of around 30% when factoring in cost-of-living adjustments.

In other industries, such as healthcare, negotiations have also been ongoing. Last week, health care workers at Kaiser Permanente staged a three-day walkout as discussions continued with one of the largest nonprofit hospital networks and managed-care organizations in the United States.

The UAW and Mack Trucks are determined to find common ground and reach an agreement that satisfies both parties. As negotiations continue, the focus remains on ensuring fair compensation and benefits for the workers while maintaining the company’s competitiveness in the market.