Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) has announced new three-year collective bargaining agreements covering workers at its Portland Truck Manufacturing Plant (PTMP) have been signed. The contracts, effective July 2, cover union employees represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 305; the Service Employees International Union Local 49; the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 1005; and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Local 1094.
The truck OEM noted that tentative collective bargaining agreements had been reached on July 1, “following extended negotiation between company management and union leadership.” The tentative agreements were ratified by Local Bargaining Unit membership in separate meetings on Friday. Previous contracts were originally set to expire June 30, but were extended pending the formal ratification of the new agreements by the union membership, noted DTNA.
According to the OEM, the new contracts include numerous negotiated provisions that “will enhance scheduling flexibility, improve efficiency and reduce operating costs.” Employment levels will remain unchanged for the present and te plant will continue to operate with one shift.
In October 2008, DTNA announced the planned mid-2010 closure of PTMP, but those plans were shelved in September 2009 in favor of what it calls "second chance" contract discussions.
"These new contracts solidify our U.S. production footprint and position us to continue manufacturing operations in Portland well into the future," said Martin Daum, DTNA president & CEO. "The negotiation process was challenging and required sacrifice and compromise from all parties involved. We would like to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to the leadership of the Portland unions and to our employees for their commitment to a productive dialog and a positive resolution."
DTNA pointed out that the ratification of the new collective bargaining agreements for PTMP follows successful new contract negotiations at the company's North Carolina and Michigan plants earlier this year.
