The President of Teamsters Local 855 says striking workers are ready to dig in for the long haul as they look for better wages and compensation from the management at Cabot Ford Lincoln on Kenmount Road.

Roger Spracklin says there are two bargaining units on the picket line, shop technicians and parts department employees, and both gave an overwhelming vote to strike on Wednesday morning.

Spracklin says they have been without a contract since last October, and negotiations were stagnant for most of the winter due to what he says was the unwillingness of the employer to come to the table.

He says they filed for conciliation in the spring, and by the time they were in a legal position to strike the workers were fed up.

As Spracklin explains, wages are a big issue.

“We’re not even asking for enough to keep up with the cost of living, but we’re asking for a little better than the status quo” says Spracklin. He continues that the employer want to stick with numbers negotiated during the pandemic, but with the high cost of living it is not enough.

He says they are also having issues with things like a tool allowance, sick days, and there is form of an RRSP to help with retention or retirement.