Mechanics On Strike At Highland Park Dealership, 55 Others

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Mechanics staged a walkout Monday across the Chicago area after voting to reject the latest proposal for a new contract.

The strike has left over 50 dealerships and auto shops without service staff, including Highland Park Ford/Lincoln at 1333 Park Ave. West in Highland Park.

Officials from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Automobile Mechanics' Union Local 701 said in a statement that an offer from the local dealers' group was rejected by 97 percent of present members.

On Sunday, 99 percent of union members voted to strike after the contract with the New Car Dealer Committee of Chicago expired.

Al Frisch, co-owner of Highland Park Ford and Lincoln, said he hopes the strike ends soon. His dealerships are unable to service vehicles without the unionized mechanics.

"I think they were offered a fair contract, and they've rejected it," Frisch told Patch.

The last time the mechanics union went on strike was in 2017, a walkout that lasted nearly two months. The union's old contract with the 55-dealership group expired at the end of last month.

"We understand strikes can be inconvenient for customers. We understand strikes can be emotional," union representatives said in a statement describing issues of contention with the contract, such as health insurance rates and a reduction in weekly guaranteed pay when dealerships have fewer cars in service bays.

"Our members are professionals, both in the shops as well as on the strike line," it said. "We appreciate the public’s understanding, as well as support we are already receiving, in our fight to improve the working terms and conditions of our highly skilled technicians who fix our vehicles and keep American’s moving safely on the road. "