United Steelworkers in Virginia approve contract with Yokohama

Salem, Virginia – Members of the United Steelworkers Local 1023 in Salem have ratified a four-year labour deal with Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Virginia LLC.

The final tally was not released, but Local 1023 said on its Facebook page that the deal runs through 14 Sept 2022, and that the vote passed by a "majority."

A Yokohama spokesman confirmed that the agreement covers about 600 bargaining unit employees. The Salem plant employs 760.

Tetsuro Murakami, president of Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Virginia said negotiations progressed well, adding that both sides were professional and worked hard throughout the process.

"We've always had a strong, positive working relationship with the union and both sides can feel good about the result," he said in a statement.

Officials from the local union could not be reached for comment.

No details on the pact were released, but the previous deal spanned four years and expired 13 Aug. The union has been working under an extension of the previous contract.

The union looks on track to be busy in 2022 as 12 other locals covered by three agreements with Bridgestone Americas Inc., Goodyear and Sumitomo Rubber USA LLC are also set to expire in July of that year. Those five-year pacts were agreed to and ratified in August of 2017.

Until then, the union has other deals with Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., Michelin/BFGoodrich and Titan International Inc. covering eight combined locals set to expire between 2019 and 2021.