UAW reaches deal with Mack Trucks as Big 3 strikes enter third week

The United Autoworkers' Union reached an agreement with Volvo-owed Mack Trucks late Sunday that avoids a separate round of strikes as action against the Big 3 automakers enters its third week. 

The UAW had voted last month to authorize strikes against Mack Trucks, but reached bargaining terms on Thursday that was subsequently expanded into a tentative agreement late last night. The deal, which still needs to be ratified by union members, will provide what Mack CEO Stephen Roy called "significantly increased wages and continue first-class benefits for Mack employees and their families."

Meanwhile, the UAW's historic strike action against the so-called Big 3 automakers of Ford  (F) - Get Free Report, General Motors  (GM) - Get Free Report and Stellantis  (STLA) - Get Free Report, continues into its third week amid increasing bitter relations between president Shawn Fain and company executives. 

Fain authorized pickets and stoppages at plants in Lansing, Michigan and Chicago, Illinois last week, taking the number of striking workers to around 25,000, following claims that talks with Ford and GM had failed to progress over the prior seven-day period.

 GM CEO Mary Bara said that calling for more strikes "just for the headlines, not real progress" and said that "It’s clear that there is no real intent to get to an agreement". Ford CEO Jim Farley said the union was attempting to hold automakers "hostage" adding that strikes would have a "devastating" impact on its business. 

“We’re willing to fight as long as it takes,” Fain told striking workers on a picket line in Toledo, Ohio Sunday. “There is progress. I mean there is progress being made, but it’s nowhere where it needs to be and we’re going to keep pushing until we get there.”