US, Mexico rule in favour of workers in Goodyear union case

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – The US and Mexican governments have reached an agreement on “a course of remediation” at the Goodyear tire factory in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

The decision was made in response to a workers' petition, claiming Goodyear had “refused to apply" a sectoral employment agreement within the rubber industry in Mexico.

The US trade representative’s (USTR) office said the agreement sought to “remedy the denial of freedom of association and collective bargaining rights" at the Mexican tire plant.

Goodyear must, therefore, apply the sector-wide agreement at the facility “while ensuring its workers maintain any wages or benefits that exceed the sector-wide agreement,” USTR added 19 July.

Furthermore, it stated, the company must also provide back-pay to workers who were previously paid less than what they would have earned under the sector agreement.

In addition, the Akron tire maker was called on to respect workers’ choice of union representation and provide an environment that does not interfere union activities.

Welcoming the decision, US trade union the United Steelworkers (USW) said it “supported the Mexican workers’ fight to win democratic representation over the past five years.”

“All workers deserve to choose their union in a free and fair election,” it added.

In a statement to ERJ, Goodyear said it was “disappointed with the finding” but remained “committed to our employees' rights to free association and collective bargaining.

"Goodyear's plant in San Luis Potosi is a state-of-the-art facility with strong employee satisfaction, competitive wages and attrition of less than 1%.

"Goodyear will continue to work closely with Mexican and US authorities to protect our associates' right to select their own representation, freely and fairly."