USW to vote on contract at Goodyear plant

ERJ staff report (TB)

Danville, Virginia -- United Steelworkers Local 831 members at Goodyear's truck tyre plant in Danville are expected to vote Feb. 19 on a tentative agreement with the tyre maker.

The Akron-based tyre maker declined to provide details until after the union vote.

The tentative pact resulted from meetings between company and union officials earlier in the month regarding the “state of the business” and the future of the Danville plant, according to the local union.

“The company's presentation was short and to the point about how the economic downturn is drastically affecting the tyre industry. It is evident that the partial weeks out are not effectively reducing inventories,” the local stated on its Web site.

The factory has held periodic weeklong shutdowns since January. A partial shutdown slated for the week of Feb. 23 has been postponed.

The Danville plant produces truck and aircraft tyres, with a daily capacity of 13,000 units.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)