Bridgestone/Firestone-USWA reach contract agreement

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Sept. 4)—Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. said it has reached tentative agreements with the United Steelworkers of America, preventing a strike of 8,000 workers at nine plants in eight states. The company—in the midst of the largest recall in tire industry history—said the three contracts came after around-the-clock bargaining, and represent a compromise by both sides, although "no compromise on any issue affecting product quality" was made. The union continued working past a strike deadline when a deal seemed possible. The contracts must be ratified by the union membership.