Volvo’s Virginia Plant Stays Open Despite Contract Lapse

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orkers continued on the job Tuesday at Volvo Trucks North America’s New River Valley plant in Dublin, Va., even though a union contract there expired at midnight Monday, a company official told Transport Topics.

"We do not have a contract, but we are still building trucks as of today," said Volvo spokesman James McNamara.

Members of the United Auto Workers Local 2069 voted last Thursday to authorize a strike if their bargaining committee failed to reach a tentative agreement with the plant’s management by Monday night, the Roanoke Times reported.

More than 95% of the plant’s approximately 3,500 workers are union members, the Times said.

Contract talks have been ongoing since Dec. 6, the paper said. The New River plant produces about 126 Volvo trucks and 60 Mack trucks a day, the Times said.