On October 31, 1961, the Mack Truck Company shut down its engine and transmission manufacturing plant at Plainfield, New Jersey, and moved its operations to Hagerstown, Maryland. Lengthy negotiations between Mack Trucks, Inc. and UAW representatives had culminated in a new "Shop Separation, Pension and Transfer Agreement." A small group of plant workers (members of UAW, Local 343) were dissatisfied with aspects of the agreement, contending that Mack had ignored "vested rights" of union members obtained through prior contracts. These employees established a group -- Mack Workers Committee for Vested Rights -- and filed suit against the company seeking a restraining order to halt further hiring in Hagerstown and asking monetary damages.
Lawrence Giordano was Chairman of the Committee and Norman Forer, its Secretary.
On March 19, 1962, the US District Court, District of New Jersey, issued an opinion dismissing the complaint and ruling that the plaintiffs were bound by the separation agreement of their UAW union and the defendant Mack Trucks, Inc.
From the guide to the Norman Forer: Mack Trucks, Inc. (Plainfield, NJ) Relocation Dispute Files, 1955-1964 (bulk 1961-1962), (Tamiment Library / Wagner Archives)
