30 July, 2013Negotiations on new collective bargaining agreements have been concluded in succession over the last weekend, covering union members at leading companies in the US tyre industry. The outcome is a big step forward for the workers.
The United Steelworkers (USW) have reached tentative agreements with three of the major tyre producers in the US; Goodyear, Bridgestone-Firestone and BF Goodrich (Michelin). In total, the agreements cover 15, 500 workers at fourteen different locations across the US. The Goodyear and Bridgestone agreements are for four years, while the one for BF Goodrich will be for three years.
USW International Vice President Tom Conway says on the agreement affecting workers at Goodyear plants: “the new tentative agreement includes economic and non-economic improvements for all union represented Goodyear employees, which led the committee to unanimously endorse it for ratification by the membership.”
“Our goal throughout the bargaining process has been to reach an agreement that ensures a solid future both for our members and their families,” said USW Secretary-Treasurer and Chairperson of IndustriALL Rubber Industry Division, Stan Johnson. Together with BF Goodrich coordinator Larry Jackson, Stan Johnson led the negotiations for the union. “This agreement represents a step forward for USW members at BF Goodrich.”
Ratification votes are expected to take place in the coming months, after which details of the agreements will be communicated.