- Union workers walked off the job Oct. 9
- It came after a majority of workers rejected a tentative contract agreement
- The walkout is about to enter its third week
LOWER MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. – As a strike at the Mack Trucks plant stretches close to two weeks, the company says it and striking workers are no closer to an agreement.
Leadership of Local 677 of the United Auto Workers Union presented several demands Thursday that the company described as unreasonable and unrealistic, according to Mack Trucks.
Union workers walked off the job Oct. 9, a little more than a week after a four-year contract expired.
“United Auto Workers leadership today presented the company with a surprising new list of unreasonable economic demands, seemingly returning to day one of negotiations, and ignoring three months of good faith bargaining between the parties,” the company said in a prepared statement Thursday.
The UAW represents 2,300 of the 2,700 employees at Mack assembly plant in Lower Macungie outside Allentown, along with workers in Maryland and Florida.
Mack Trucks said the two sides are scheduled to return to the bargaining table Monday.
“Unfortunately, the new UAW economic demands are completely unrealistic.”Mack Trucks President Stephen Roy
“Unfortunately, the new UAW economic demands are completely unrealistic,” said Mack Trucks President Stephen Roy in the statement. “We’ve already shown that we’re prepared to provide our employees with significantly improved wages, but we are not prepared to jeopardize the company.”
Details of the union's offer weren't immediately available. Leaders of Local 677 have not responded to requests for comment since the strike began.
Both sides had announced a tentative deal before the walkout, but the union said 73% of union workers rejected it and called for a strike.
The tentative deal included a 19% pay raise over the life of the five-year contract, no increases on health insurance premiums, and a $3,500 bonus if ratified on the first vote, according to the company.
