Deadline looms for High Point workers as UAW, Daimler Truck negotiate contract

A contract covering more than 7,000 Daimler Truck workers in the South, including many with Thomas Built Buses in High Point, is set to expire at midnight Friday — and union members may go on strike if a deal is not reached.

As negotiations continue, the United Auto Workers labor union says the company is treating workers unfairly. This week the union filed charges against Daimler Truck, accusing the company of engaging in retaliatory actions against union workers and interfering with workers’ rights to organize.

The UAW says workers should benefit from the company’s record profits.

In an email to WFDD, Daimler officials say they are engaged in a good-faith collective-bargaining agreement with UAW leaders for a new contract that will benefit all parties 

North Carolina is among the least unionized states in the country and big union wins are relatively rare here. But the UAW has had some major victories in recent months, including new contracts following a strike with the "Big Three" automakers last year, and a successful union drive for Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga, Tenn.