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With the strike approaching its sixth week at the New River Valley Volvo plant in Dublin, the UAW and Volvo officials will return to the bargaining table today.
Just last Friday, the UAW and Volvo came to an agreement to return to negotiations this week. The local union walked off the job at midnight Feb. 1, after talks broke down in Charlotte. Since then, close to 2,600 local 2069 union members have been picketing 24 hours a day at the Dublin plant. Neither side would reveal where the negotiations are taking place. Prior to the Feb. 1 strike, UAW and Volvo officials had been meeting for several weeks; however, the two sides could never agree over health and safety issues. “It all boiled down to the health and safety issues,” said Lester Hancock, President of Local UAW 2069. “This strike has never been about money.” In making the announcement last Friday about the talks resuming, Volvo North American President Per Carlsson made the following statements in a letter to all the Volvo employees. “While we are encouraged that the talks will resume, it’s important to note that there are still many challenges involved in making this facility a global leader in quality, on-time delivery and efficient production – and all at a globally competitive cost. To do this, we have to be able to better manage our very cyclical business by responding quickly and efficiently to the market. Both the Union and the Company have acknowledged that the exceptionally high degree of manpower movement and higher-than-average absenteeism in the factory impede workforce stability and negatively impact the ability of the plant and our products to be competitive. Additionally, though we are committed to maintaining health care coverage for our employees and retirees that compares very favorably with the coverage provided by any employer in the U.S., increased health care cost sharing is not an option – it’s a necessity. And it’s an issue that both the Company and the Union need to be working on together. It remains the Company’s major objective to arrive at a fair contract for all through the collective bargaining process. But it will require change to further develop this facility, move forward, and justify the Volvo Group’s continued investment. I remain hopeful that we can work together to resolve these issues in a way that benefits everyone involved.” When contacted Tuesday evening, Hancock said, “We will continue to fight for the same issues we walked out on to start with. We will accept nothing less than what we had asked for in the beginning. All we want is a fair contract” When asked how long he expected the talks to last, Hancock replied, “I have no idea.” Volvo officials would not return phone calls left for them on Tuesday. The last time there was strike at the New River Valley Volvo plant was in 1991 and it last for four weeks. Photo: (Top left) UAW Local 2069 members continue to strike outside the New River Valley Volvo plant in Dublin. (Photo by David Grimes)
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Additionally, though we are committed to maintaining health care coverage for our employees and retirees that compares very favorably with the coverage provided by any employer in the U.S., increased health care cost sharing is not an option – it’s a necessity. And it’s an issue that both the Company and the Union need to be working on together.
Also see this part of the article that clearly suggest that Volvo is staring to question whether the investment in the plant there is worth it.
It remains the Company’s major objective to arrive at a fair contract for all through the collective bargaining process. But it will require change to further develop this facility, move forward, and justify the Volvo Group’s continued investment.
Keep striking guys your doing a good job convincing Volvo to move out of your area. I am sure other communities would appreciate Volvo's investment to there economy.