My Beef With Mack Trucks

Well this is all fine and dandy that Mack Trucks is bringing new jobs to it's Macungie plant but this company strikes a bit of a sour note with me.TMC: Chronology Of UAW Local 677 At Mack Trucks
      "October 1985 - Mack Trucks announces plans to close 5C assembly plant, which employs 1,830 people.

      Jan. 24, 1986 - Mack announces it will replace 5C with a new $80 million plant in Winnsboro, S.C. Blames union's refusals to accept $2.04-per-hour wage cuts.

      Jan. 19, 1987 - The bargaining committee of Local 677 unanimously approves a six-year concessionary agreement with Mack that includes a no-strike provision and cuts wages, time off and employee classifications. UAW International for the first time indicates it will reject the agreement as approved by its own locals, setting off a brief but heated internal union feud.

      March 28, 1987 - After unsuccessful talks in Lancaster, Mack issues an ultimatum: If concessions agreement is not reached by April 22, "necessary business decisions" involving Mack's future will be made. Industry analysts say decisions may include Mack moving from the Lehigh Valley altogether.

      Aug. 3, 1987 - Mack's $80 million, high-tech Winnsboro plant opens.

      Oct. 23, 1987 - Plant 5C closes after 50 years. Most of 1,800 employees to be laid off."

TMC: April 24, 1993. "Mack, which is losing between $8 million and $10 million monthly, was told yesterday that Pennsylvania will pitch in $9.15 million in loans and grants this year... Mack will cease its contributions into a supplemental unemployment benefits fund and instead pay the benefits directly upon need.
In my opinion we here in Allentown worshipped Mack Trucks. The state and union workers made every concession possible and they still left here for North Carolina. It turned out in 1988 it wasn't the paradise they thought it would be.

Mack trucks, Western Electric, A&B, Bethlehem Steel and several other companies' workers & the state of Pennsylvania broke down and granted concessions. In each case we were left down in spite of them. Hence why I'm never in favor of granting concessions.

There was no greater pride Allentown once took then having Mack Trucks home based here. While we might have taken them personal that is not the way businesses operate in my opinion. So pardon me if I'm not all razzle dazzeled and a bit skeptical of being optimistic based on past history. This is only my opinion. I'm doing nothing more then trying to convey what I feel when I read news stories like these.