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UAW Local 2069 President Talks About The New Volvo Contract

David Grimes

The honking horns are gone, the dozen or so picketers at each entrance were also missing Sunday afternoon. The only visible signs that there was even a seven-week strike at the New River Valley Volvo plant remaining are the empty huts in which the strikers built and the security guards still standing watch at the entrances.

Yes, the strike between UAW Local 2069 and Volvo North America if officially over. The local union held two meetings on Saturday and then held a ratification vote on the new 3-year contract that evening. When all the votes were tallied, 90 percent of the membership voted yes to the new deal.

“We had two meetings on Saturday and they went very well,” said Lester Hancock, President of UAW Local 2069. “The people seemed very pleased when we addressed the proposals we had.”

According to Hancock, “We brought back the best that could be brought back.”

“There was some real good stuff in the new contract and there was stuff that we will have to live with,” added Hancock.

During an interview on Sunday, Hancock had nothing but high praise for the union membership during the whole duration of the strike. “We gained a lot of respect for holding out. This strike occurred during the winter months and it was very hard for the people to stand out there in the blistering cold and the rain and stuff. But they stood out there because they believed in what we were fighting for.”

As for the proposals on the new contract, Hancock said, “I believe that 90 percent of it is real good and we have that 10 percent in which we can live with.”

The union did get its health and safety issues resolved. Volvo has also made an agreement to get rid of the Cadmium fasteners and bolts.

“They [Volvo] have guaranteed that they have bought in an outside company to sweep the building for any particles of Cadmium that may be in there,” Hancock stated.

One of the key things in which Hancock brought up Sunday was the fact that they [Volvo] would be gaining up to 114 and maybe up to 140 jobs by in-sourcing work. “This is the first time ever that you in-source work instead of out-source work,” Hancock said.

Click to Enlarge

The union was also pleased with the language to get a good ergonomics program to benefit the workers and the company.

“This was a win-win for everybody,” said Hancock. “Did we get everything we wanted? No, of course not. Did we get everything I felt we could work with? I think so. I think the company prevailed and we prevailed too.”

Hancock also noted the support that they had from the community, organizations and area businesses.

“This community was very supportive of us and believe me…this membership knows that and they will return the favor to everyone that has supported us in this community,” noted Hancock. “We supported them prior to the strike and in return they supported us and in return we will continue to support them after the strike.”

Union members will return to work next Monday, March 24.

Photos by David Grimes

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