ST. THOMAS, Ont. — Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) and the CAW Local 1001 have agreed to terms surrounding the closure of the Sterling truck plant here.

DTNA announced it was discontinuing the Sterling brand last fall as part of the company’s restructuring. Workers at the plant voted 97% in favour of the closure agreement, the CAW said yesterday in a release.

The agreement includes enhanced severance, extended benefits and funding for a job action centre.

The plant will close March 27. At its peak, 2,200 people worked there.

“Our committee worked extremely hard to get the best possible agreement for our members, but this remains a tough time for these skilled workers, their families and the St. Thomas community and the surrounding area,” said CAW president Ken Lewenza.

“This Sterling truck plant closure underlines again the need for the federal government to take immediate action to deal with the manufacturing jobs crisis in Canada, which continues to mean the loss of skilled, good paying jobs. The federal Conservative government of Stephen Harper must pay more attention to this crisis and outline a strategy to deal with it in its upcoming budget.”