High Point, other workers overwhelmingly approve collective bargaining agreements

Union members have overwhelmingly voted to approve a new contract for thousands of workers in North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia.

The United Auto Workers and Daimler Truck reached an 11th-hour deal late last month to avert strikes at workplaces including Thomas Built Buses in High Point. The UAW says about 95% voted in favor of the agreement.

The new contract begins immediately and runs until March of 2028. It includes raises of more than 25% and profit sharing for the first time. It also ends a tiered wage system in favor of equal work for equal pay by the end of the contract.

More than 7,000 workers across three states will be covered under the deal. In a release, Daimler officials say the agreement shows the company’s commitment to its employees.

According to the city’s economic development corporation, Thomas Built Buses is one of High Point’s largest employers, with a total of about 1,700 employees as of 2022.