BFS, USW back to bargaining table Jan. 30

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania -- The United Steelworkers union has secured master contracts running into 2009 with two tyre makers and is now looking to complete the 2006 bargaining season by reaching an agreement with Bridgestone/Firestone.

Negotiators for both sides plan on convening in St. Louis on 30 Jan. to work on a deal covering more than 6000 workers at eight US BFS tyre and rubber product plants. Talks will restart after several months of inactivity as the Goodyear/USW negotiations -- and eventual strike -- took centre stage.

Bargaining committees for both the USW and BFS planned on meeting separately this week to examine the Goodyear pact and revamp their strategies for the upcoming talks, a USW spokesman said. Negotiations between the company and union started in June, recessed during BFGoodrich talks, started again briefly in the Autumn, then broke off again in favour of Goodyear-related sessions.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)