US union signs ‘master contract’ with Goodyear, Michelin, Bridgestone

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – US union United Steelworkers (USW) has signed a new “master contract” with Goodyear, Michelin and Bridgestone to support the welfare of local workers.

The contract covers 6,000 Goodyear workers, 4,000 unionised workers at Bridgestone and 1,800 USW-represented Michelin-BF Goodrich employees across the US, said USW 24 Aug.

With the contract, said USW international president Thomas Conway, workers won “meaningful economic and contract language improvements."

The deal, said the union, features wage increases, maintains cost-of-living adjustments, provides lump-sum payments, improves retirement options and eliminates two-tier wage systems.

The agreement also allows recently hired and younger employees to accrue vacation and progress through the wage scales more quickly.

The contracts with Goodyear and Bridgestone set terms for four years, while the Michelin-BF Goodrich agreement is set to expire after three years.