STE-THERESE, Que. – Truck manufacturer Paccar’s laying off 100 people at its Canadian plant located in Ste-Therese, Que., even though its increasing production, is “incomprehensible,” Canadian Auto Workers national representative Serge Portelance said to media in early November.

The union’s Local 728 represents 425 floor and office employees at the truck factory. Portelance said that relations between the union and company management were starting to turn sour again, as they had been for most of the manufacturer’s previous 30-year existence under the Kenworth brand. Equally confusing to Portelance was why the plant was gearing up production even as Paccar noted that demand for heavy trucks is on the decline.

“They have not explained why they are laying off people. It’s a mystery,” he told local media, adding it was “really incomprehensible” since the union and the company were in a work-sharing agreement, and it was working.” n