United Auto Worker-represented employees at Volvo Trucks North America’s New River Valley truck assembly factory have rejected the company’s tentative agreement for a new five-year contract. According to the union, up to 91% of voting workers rejected the agreement’s common language and 83% voted against its salary language. Volvo Trucks and the UAW reported that union workers would still return to work as scheduled May 17.
Negotiations between Volvo Trucks and the UAW for the new contract began February 8, 2021. After the company and union failed to come to an agreement by March 16, the union announced a strike in April that ended April 30 with the announcement of the tentative agreement negotiated during the strike.
According to Volvo Trucks, 2,900 of the factory’s 3,300 workers at the Dublin, Virginia factory are represented by the UAW’s Local 2069.
In a statement, New River Valley VP Franky Marchand said, “We look forward to working with the UAW to resolve whatever the outstanding issues are, and we remain confident we will be able to reach a mutually beneficial agreement.” A statement from the company also noted the plant is in the middle of a $400 million on upgrades, side expansion, and preparation to assemble an electric truck. Volvo Trucks says the plant has added 1,100 new jobs since 2016 when its last union contract was ratified.
A statement from the UAW said “Members of UAW Local 2069 will continue working and go back to the bargaining table shortly.”
