Workers strike at Volvo truck facility

Volvo Trucks North America and the United Auto Workers (UAW) expressed “disappointment” after nearly 3000 members of the UAW began a strike at the company’s New River Valley manufacturing plant in Dublin, Va., Saturday.

Members of the UAW working at the Volvo Trucks North America New River Valley plant in Dublin, Va., have gone on strike.

“We are surprised and disappointed that the UAW decided to strike,” said NRV Vice President and General Manager Franky Marchand. “Progress was being made, and we had offered substantial increases in our employees’ compensation. We don’t understand why the UAW won’t allow our employees to continue building trucks while we continue negotiations. We are committed to the collective bargaining process and look forward to getting back to the table. We are confident that we will be able to arrive at an agreement that provides a competitive wage and benefit package for our employees and families, and helps to ensure the plant’s competitiveness, long-term growth and sustainability.”

The decision to strike came after a 30-day contract extension expired. In a statement, UAW Secretary-Treasurer Ray Curry, director of the UAW Heavy Truck Dept. said, “The UAW is disappointed that Volvo Truck has failed to present a substantial offer by the March 16 contract deadline despite a contract extension. Our goal remains to achieve a fair tentative agreement for our members, their families and the community of Dublin, Va.”

The UAW has proposed a future bargaining date of Monday, April 26.

The Volvo Group is the only heavy-duty truck manufacturing group that assembles all of its trucks and engines for the North American market in the United States. The NRV plant employs more than 3300 people, about 2900 of whom are UAW members.

Volvo said 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, slated for the serial production launch this spring. The plant has added 1100 jobs since the current union agreement was implemented in 2016 and said it is on track to have a net increase of approximately 600 positions in 2021.