Contracts expire at Kelly-Springfield factories

AKRON (July 9)—The union contracts at Goodyear´s three Kelly-Springfield tire facilities expired July 6 and now fall under the same day-to-day contract extension as the firm´s 11 other sites covered under its master contract with the United Steelworkers of America. "In one way, we pretty much have met one of our bargaining goals, which is common expiration dates," a USWA spokesman said of the addition of the Kelly-Springfield locals to the contract extension. "We now can prepare our options and know all 14 plants are on the same page." A Goodyear spokesman said officials for both sides are continuing "informal conversation" despite the fact that no date has been set to resume negotiations. He added that the passing of the Kelly-Springfield contract expirations will have no real impact on negotiations. "We've basically been operating in this set of negotiations considering the Kelly plants as part of this," he said. The USWA is planning rallies for July 18-20 at each of the Goodyear, Dunlop and Kelly-Springfield locations covered by the contracts.