Mechanics at 56 Chicago-area automobile dealerships are on strike for a second week as their union and the Chicago New Automobile Vendor Committee, which represents the shops, spar over work contract particulars and who ought to make the subsequent transfer in negotiating a brand new four-year contract.

The staff are members of Native 701, which is a part of the Worldwide Affiliation of Machinists and Aerospace Employees commerce union. The Chicago Car Commerce Affiliation — which says it’s not a part of these particular negotiations — helps its members which might be a part of the automobile seller committee, often known as the NCDC.

Native 701 posted a negotiation replace to its web site, during which it stated the NCDC is prolonging the strike by ignoring the union’s rejection of its contract proposal.

The union is asking the NCDC to pay sure contributions set by the union’s Well being and Welfare Fund; to not make it simpler to cut back weekly assured pay if a talented employee isn’t assembly work expectations due to extenuating circumstances, similar to COVID-19 shutdowns; and to not provide contracts that incorporate “most favored nation” language.

“We have informed the NCDC we’re completely happy to return to the desk when it could possibly realign its positions with [union members’] calls for,” Native 701 stated within the replace.

In a Tuesday assertion, Chicago Car Commerce Affiliation President Dave Sloan stated sellers requested Native 701 for a counterproposal in the course of the first week of the strike. In keeping with him, the NCDC was ready to fulfill final weekend, however the union was a “no-show.”

“As we wait, there are about 800 of our sellers’ technicians out on strike, strolling the picket line, sitting within the driving rain and wilting within the sizzling solar, not getting a paycheck, questioning when their union will get again to the negotiating desk,” Sloan stated.

The work stoppage began Aug. 2 after 97 p.c of the union’s members voted to reject the NCDC’s proposal and voted to provoke a strike.

The strike comes after months of bargaining between the 2 organizations. The contract proposal in query — supplied July 31 — was rejected by Native 701 a day later.

In 2017, the union performed a seven-and-a-half-week strike after comparable contract negotiation friction between it and the NCDC.