UAW again rejects Volvo Trucks contract

Volvo Trucks North America announced that employees represented by the United Auto Workers (UAW) again have again rejected a new six-year labor agreement covering approximately 2900 members of UAW Local #2069 at the New River Valley truck assembly operations in Dublin, Va.

The UAW has again rejected the latest contract offer at Volvo Trucks North America’s New River Valley plant in Dublin, Va.

Negotiations began on Feb. 8 and the negotiating teams reached the latest tentative agreement on May 20. According to the union, approximately 90% of its membership rejected the deal.

“It is difficult to understand this action,” said NRV Vice President and General Manager Franky Marchand. “UAW International, Regional, and Local leadership endorsed the tentative agreement, which provided significant economic improvements for all UAW-represented workers, and a package of benefits that is very competitive for our industry and region.

“We remain committed to the collective bargaining process, and we are confident that we will ultimately arrive at a mutually beneficial agreement.”

The NRV plant employs more than 3300 people, about 2900 of whom are UAW members. The plant is in the midst of a $400 million investment for advanced technology upgrades, site expansion and preparation for future products, including the Volvo VNR Electric truck. The plant has added 1,100 jobs since the last union agreement was implemented in 2016 and is on track to have a net increase of approximately 600 positions in 2021, the company said.