Goodyear, Steelworkers reach tentative contract agreement

ERJ staff report (TB)

Cincinnati, Ohio -- Goodyear and the United Steelworkers (USW) have reached tentative agreement on a new four-year master contract covering workers at seven US tyre plants.

The two sides reached the deal at 9 pm Aug. 29 in Cincinnati, with a midnight deadline looming. The original three-year agreement was to expire July 18, but it was extended twice as talks progressed.

Jim Allen, Goodyear's chief negotiator, said the company is pleased to have reached an agreement that accomplishes Goodyear's bargaining goals and helps secure the future for its US factories.

The USW will schedule ratification votes at the affected plants within the next week. Details of the agreement will be released after information and ratification meetings are held, the union said.

The contract, if ratified, will cover about 11,500 workers at tyre manufacturing sites in Akron; Tonawanda, New York; Danville, Virginia; Fayetteville, North Carolina; Gadsden, Alabama; Topeka, Kansas; and Union City, Tennessee.

The Steelworkers union continues to negotiate on new contracts with Bridgestone Americas Inc., where about 4500 members work at seven tyre and rubber product facilities. The contract there has been extended on a day-to-day basis.

Steelworkers at Michelin North America Inc.'s BFGoodrich tyre manufacturing sites in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama, ratified a new three-year pact with the company on Aug. 21. A third USW-represented BFG plant in Opelika, Alabama, is scheduled to close this Autumn.

From Tire Business s (A Crain publication)

Press release from Goodyear