UAW members to vote on Volvo’s final offer for Dublin plant on Wednesday

PULASKI COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) — Negotiations between United Auto Workers (UAW) and Volvo will continue on Wednesday after union members at the New River Valley plant in Dublin turned down their third tentative agreement with Volvo last week.

When WFXR News first spoke to the union as the workers went on strike back in April, they said they were focused on major concerns like job security, increased pay, pension, healthcare, etc.

The NRV plant employs more than 3,300 people, approximately 2,900 of whom are UAW members. 

Volvo Truck North America issued a statement on Friday, July 9 after union workers rejected a new collective bargaining agreement regarding the company’s New River Valley truck assembly operations in Dublin.

The agreement was decided on July 1, and it’s the third tentative agreement approved by UAW leadership and turned down by its members, even though it offered significant wage gains and first-class benefits.

The UAW Local 2069 Facebook post from Sunday, July 11 says a second vote is set for union members on Wednesday, July 14 on Volvo’s “last, best and final offer.” However, those on strike will reportedly stay on strike because the company has not provided them with a return-to-work date.

Volvo officials say they will implement the terms and conditions of the tentative agreement endorsed by union leaders earlier this month — except for the contract ratification bonuses — for any employee who returns to work on or after Monday, July 12.