The International Truck and Engine Corporation and the UAW—which represents 3700 of its workers—are continuing negotiations on a new contract following the expiration of their previous labor deal. The UAW has extended the contract for the time being on an hour-to-hour basis.
“We agree at this stage that it’s best to keep talking, so we can continue making progress at the bargaining table,” said UAW Vice President General Holiefield in a press release. “But we don’t agree with what this company is trying to do to our membership.”
Jeff Bowen, VP of human resources operations for International, insists that the company is doing what it can to come to an agreement. “At this point, we feel it’s in everyone’s best interest to keep talking and see if we can close the gaps that remain,” he said in a press release. “Both teams worked through the night and our employees continue to work.”
International also said in a message to their stockholders that, “We are working hard to come to agreement as soon as possible. Our goal was to reach agreement before the expiration, but we could not accomplish that. Nevertheless, both sides agreed not to take immediate action and focus on getting an agreement.”
International spokesman Roy Wiley told FleetOwner that the company does not comment further on ongoing negotiations. UAW had not returned a phone call as of press time.
