Bridgestone Australia to cut jobs

SALISBURY, Australia (Aug. 30)—Bridgestone Australia Ltd. is cutting 120 of the 700 jobs at its Salisbury tire plant as part of a "profit improvement plan," following losses by the company in the first half of fiscal 2000. Labor unions representing Bridgestone workers are protesting the move and are petitioning the Australian Industrial Relations Commission to intervene. Bridgestone Australia reported a loss of $218,000 in the first half and warned of a possible second-half loss as well, blaming the problem on the high level of manufacturing costs and rising competition from low-priced imports. The Salisbury plant lists capacities of 10,600 passenger and 4,800 truck tires a day.