Conti to begin layoffs in Charlotte

Charlotte, North Carolina -- Continental Tire North America Inc. plans to lay off about 140 workers at its Charlotte tyre plant, beginning March 17.

Company officials have talked about laying off personnel since mid-March if the United Steelworkers union and the firm could not agree on a way to cut $32 million in costs at the plant. The two sides aren't close to a resolution and USW Local 850 President Mark Cieslikowski said the union has been notified that the cutbacks will begin this week.

Another round of layoffs will probably occur in mid-May, that one involving about 160 workers, and in September more than 470 are expected to be cut, Conti said.

If the company does not get the $32 million in cost cuts it's looking for, it has threatened to cease tyre production at the factory in September, retaining only its rubber mixing, calendering, puncture sealant and warehousing operations to support its other manufacturing facilities.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)