UAW Workers on Strike at Volvo Trucks North America Plant
United Auto Workers members are again on strike at Volvo Trucks North America’s New River Valley truck-assembly plant after workers for the second time rejected a tentative deal.

The second strike in two months comes as Volvo is starting production of its VNR Electric.
Photo: Volvo Trucks North America
United Auto Workers members are again on strike at Volvo Trucks North America’s New River Valley truck-assembly plant in Dublin, Virginia, after workers for the second time rejected a tentative deal.
VTNA employees represented by the United Auto Workers on June 6 rejected a new six-year labor agreement. A strike was scheduled to begin at noon on June 7. The NRV plant employs more than 3,300 people, about 2,900 of whom are UAW members.
It’s the second strike this year as the two sides struggle to come to terms.
The previous five-year contract expired in mid-March, and production stopped April 17 after a 30-day extension expired without an agreement. It was the first such strike for Volvo since 2008.
A tentative agreement was reached April 30 and production resumed May 3, but that agreement was soundly rejected by the rank and file on May 16.
The two sides quickly came to a second tentative agreement on May 20, this time a six-year agreement. It had changes such as an increased retiree lump sum, reducing the eight-year wage progression to a six-year program, a new attendance policy allowing workers to leave early with permission, lower insurance premiums and a reduction in the out-of-pocket maximum on health insurance, requirement that employees must be notified if they will have to work daily overtime no later than the midpoint of the shift, and other changes.
However, members overwhelmingly rejected the new tentative agreement, with 90% voting no, and even more voting against the salary language than did against the terms of the first agreement. On social media, many workers complained it was not substantively better than the first version.
In its Monday, June 7, letter to VTNA advising workers would go on strike at noon, Ray Curry of the UAW Heavy Truck Department, said “many topics remain at issue, including wage increases, job security, wage progression, skilled trades, shift premium, holiday schedules, work schedules, health and safety, seniority, pension, 401(k), healthcare and prescription drug coverage, and overtime.”
The letter said the union is available to reconvene negotiations starting Wednesday, June 9.
“It is difficult to understand this action,” said NRV Vice President and General Manager Franky Marchand in a statement. “UAW international, regional, and local leadership endorsed the tentative agreement, which provided significant economic improvements for all UAW-represented workers, and a package of benefits that is very competitive for our industry and region. We remain committed to the collective bargaining process, and we are confident that we will ultimately arrive at a mutually beneficial agreement.”
The strike comes at a time when heavy-duty truck makers are already struggling to keep pace with high demand and deal with a global shortage of microchips. It also comes as Volvo ramps up production on its new heavy-duty electric truck.
More Equipment

Kodiak Lines Up Fleets for Driverless Trucking
An agreement for 75 trucks, a new Texas freight lane, and progress on safety validation move Kodiak closer to its planned driverless highway launch.
Read More →
How GP Transco Builds Fuel Savings a Fraction at a Time
Aerodynamic specs, solar panels, and driver incentives help GP Transco turn small efficiency gains into savings it can reinvest in its people.
Read More →
More Trailer Data Through the Same Seven-Way [Video]
Can trucking’s standard seven-way connector handle more cameras and trailer data? Grote’s Adam Slade shows HDT how the company is using new technology with its 4See trailer system, not only to add a new backup camera but also to expand other capabilities — without adding another connection.
Read More →
Grote: More Cameras, Same Seven-Way Connector
The next-generation 4See rear-view backup camera from Grote uses the standard seven-way connector and supports additional cameras and other trailer data.
Read More →
Trucks at ATA's 2026 MC&E in Charlotte, North Carolina [Photos]
From rigs decked out in patriotic America's 250 paint schemes to autonomous trucks and more, check out these photos from ATA's 2026 Management Conference & Exhibition.
Read More →
Help HDT Find Trucking’s Top Products
Have you come across a new product that could make a difference for trucking fleets? Nominate it for HDT’s 2027 Top 20 Products Awards by November 9.
Read More →
Volvo Unveils New VNX Heavy-Haul and Vocational Truck
Volvo Trucks has launched the VNX, a new vocational truck also available as a tractor in day cab and two sleeper configurations, with one heavy-haul model. The Volvo VNX is powered by Volvo's D13 platform, which delivers up to 540 horsepower and 1,950 pound-feet of torque and is EPA 2027-compliant.
Read More →How GP Transco Cuts Trucking Fuel Costs, a Tenth of a Gallon at a Time
What’s another tenth of a mile per gallon worth? GP Transco shares how equipment upgrades and driver coaching turn small gains into meaningful fuel savings.
Read More →
Electric Yard Tractors Move Beyond Pilots
Operating-cost savings have overtaken sustainability goals as the leading reason surveyed fleets are adopting battery-electric terminal tractors, according to new NACFE research.
Read More →
Continental Introduces New Regional Truck Tires
Continental says its new Generation 5 steer and drive tires for regional operations offer longer tread life, with estimated mileage gains of 22% and 19%, respectively.
Read More →
