700 Laid-Off Volvo Workers Returning to Work
Some 700 members of UAW Local 2069 will return to work next month at Volvo Trucks’ New River Valley plant in Virginia after being laid off for three years. Under a new contract ratified over the weekend, some 100 workers will return May 2; more than 250 are scheduled to report back May 9, and more than 350 will return May 16.
The new agreement also allows Volvo to be more competitive with other manufacturers that produce heavy-duty Class 8 trucks in the United States and Mexico.
“Volvo’s ramp-up in production is a direct result of the new UAW contract that made it possible for workers to return and for the company to increase its truck production,” says UAW Vice President General Holiefield, who directs the union’s Heavy Truck Department.
Five New Members Named to Executive Council
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The AFL-CIO today elected five new members to the Executive Council. The Council also voted to add two seats to the council to promote and establishing diversity as well as giving a greater role to state and local labor leaders.
The council is meeting this week in Washington, D.C., to discuss plans for a major push in the fall elections, the union movement’s ongoing strategy to address the jobs crisis and efforts to reach out to young workers. President Obama will address the council today.
The new members of the Executive Council include: UAW President Bob King, UAW Vice President General Holiefield, AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Lee Saunders, North Carolina State AFL-CIO President James Andrews and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor Executive Secretary-Treasurer Maria Elena Durazo.
The Council also honored two departing members—former UAW President Ron Gettelfinger and former United American Nurses President Ann Converso for their service to working people. Former UAW Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth Bunn announced her retirement from the Council in March to become AFL-CIO organizing director. Holiefield was elected to fill that vacancy.
UAW Reaches Settlement Agreement with Chrysler, Fiat
Just days before a federally imposed deadline, the UAW announced last night it had reached a settlement agreement with Chrysler, Fiat and the U.S. Treasury Department.
After rejecting Chrysler’s viability plan in February, President Obama gave Chrysler workers and the company a second chance, union officials said. This concessionary agreement, while painful, takes advantage of this opportunity, the union said.
