Strike shuts Sterling Truck plant in Ontario, Canada

Feb. 24, 2003
Freightliner LLC’s Sterling Truck assembly plant in St Thomas, Ontario, Canada, was shut down by a strike February 21 after the DaimlerChrysler subsidiary
Freightliner LLC’s Sterling Truck assembly plant in St Thomas, Ontario, Canada, was shut down by a strike February 21 after the DaimlerChrysler subsidiary and the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) union failed to come to terms over health benefits.

CAW, which represents 1,100 union members at the plant, said it rejected the company’s demand for new escalating employee payments for health benefit coverage.

“This company already has a $5 US cost advantage over their American plants on health-care coverage, and now they want an even greater saving at the expense of their Canadian workforce,” said Richard Laverty, who heads the union’s Sterling Truck bargaining committee.

A statement issued by Freightliner said its latest offer would have raised the hourly rate for most employees to more than $26.50 over three years and absorbed a “large part” of future benefit increases.

The Sterling Truck plant makes about 70 medium- and heavy-duty trucks a day.

About the Author

Tim Parry

Tim Parry is a former FleetOwner editor. 

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!

Sponsored Recommendations

Boost truck leasing profits with telematics insights! Reduce maintenance costs, improve uptime, and strengthen customer relationships. Learn how data drives success.
This free guide outlines simple steps for hiring and onboarding commercial drivers while ensuring that you meet Regulation Part 391 and maintain fully compliant driver qualification...
Ready to boost fleet efficiency by up to 50%? Learn how AI-powered dispatch and next-gen tech are transforming TMS workflows, improving driver planning, and streamlining operations...
Gain a strategic edge in today’s evolving fleet landscape. Join us to explore how fuel cards are helping fleet managers cut costs, enhance control, and prepare for an electrified...