Mechanics Walk Out Of 5 Oak Lawn Car Dealerships, 55 Others

OAK LAWN, IL — Mechanics throughout the Chicago area staged a walkout Monday after rejecting local dealers’ latest proposal for a new contract. Over 50 dealerships and auto shops were left without staff, including five car dealers in Oak Lawn.

Officials from IAM Mechanics Union Local 701 said in a statement that an offer from the local dealers’ group was rejected by 97 percent of rank-and-file members late Saturday, within minutes of when their current contract from 2017 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 contract with the 55 dealerships expired at midnight Saturday.

Auto mechanics from Hawk Ford, Happy Hyundai, Oak Lawn Mazda, Volkswagen of Oak Lawn and Webb Chevrolet were seen alternately walking the picket line on Monday.

“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. "

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