Volvo Trucks North America (VTNA) announced yesterday that the company and the United Auto Workers (UAW) have reached a tentative agreement on the terms of a new three-year contract that would cover approximately 2,600 UAW members at Volvo’s New River Valley, VA plant. Details are being withheld pending a ratification vote by unionized workers.
UAW Local #2069 members will review the proposal on Saturday, March 15th at New River Community College before voting between 1 and 8 PM that night at the UAW Local #2069 union hall.
The current strike began after the previous agreement expired at 11:59 PM on January 31, 2008. UAW walked off the job after negotiations, which according to VTNA began on January 8th, failed to lead to a new contract.
Volvo Trucks North America assembles its Volvo VT, VN and VHD model trucks at the New River Valley Plant in Dublin, VA. Volvo engines for North America are assembled in Hagerstown, MD.
According to a report posted on local news website EverythingNRV.com, VTNA president & CEO Per Carlsson wrote a letter to all employees indicating that negotiations between the two parties were to resume on March 5th.
“It remains the Company’s major objective to arrive at a fair contract for all through the collective bargaining process,” the letter stated. “But it will require change to further develop this facility, move forward, and justify the Volvo Group’s continued investment. I remain hopeful that we can work together to resolve these issues in a way that benefits everyone involved.”
Trucks North America is part of the Volvo Group, which employs about 100,000 people worldwide and has production facilities in 19 countries.
UAW Local #2069 declined comment on details of the agreement. Volvo Trucks North America has yet to respond to FleetOwner’s inquires.
