- Unionized workers at Mack Truck Lehigh Valley have voted to authorize a strike if a new contract is not reached when the current one expires Oct. 1
- Should there be a strike, it would be the second in four years by workers for UAW Local 667 against the company
- UAW Local 667 represents 2,300 of the 2,700 employees at the local Mack plant
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Workers at Mack Truck Lehigh Valley who are members of United Auto Workers Local 677 are prepared to strike for the second time in four years.
The union contract between management at the Mack plant in Lower Macungie Township and Local 667 expires Oct. 1.
In a union vote last week, 98% of member ballots authorized a strike at that time if no progress is made in negotiations that have been going on since July 11.
On Monday, Local 667 posted a letter on its website notifying members to be on the lookout for a strike card in their home mail.
The letter from Local 667 Vice President Michael Shupp, Secretary Rebecca Kemmerer and Financial Secretary-Treasurer Michael Kelly said the strike card is a standard practice to ensure “strike readiness” in the event of a strike.
'Complete opposite sides'
The UAW Local 667 represents 2,300 of the 2,700 employees at the local Mack plant.
A letter from Local 667 Vice President Michael Shupp, Secretary Rebecca Kemmerer and Financial Secretary-Treasurer Michael Kelly said the strike card is a standard practice to ensure “strike readiness” in the event of a strike.Local 667 website
The possibility of a strike by Local 667 is simmering as UAW members are in their fourth day of striking against General Motors, Ford and Stellantis, which makes cars under the Chrysler, Jeep and Ram brands.
Also, Unifor, the union that represents auto workers in Canada, is preparing to strike against Ford at midnight Monday as the two sides remain far apart in negotiations.
A letter dated Aug. 25 posted on the UAW Local 677 website said Mack management and the union negotiating team are “on complete opposite sides of what we wanted.”
A person who answered the phone at the UAW Local 667 headquarters late Monday afternoon said anyone who could speak to the strike authorization had left for the day.
No one immediately responded to calls to Mack Truck Lehigh Valley, seeking comment Monday afternoon.
