STATESVILLE, N.C. (Nov. 22)—Workers at Goodyear's Statesville tire mold plant have overwhelmingly ratified a three-year contract with the company, the United Steelworkers of America announced Nov. 22.
It is the first contract at the site, where the hourly work force in February chose the USWA as its collective bargaining representative. About 95 percent of the voting members were in favor of the new pact, which provides workers with a network of job security measures in addition to increased seniority and work schedule rights, the union said.
The new agreement also will provide for night shift bonus pay and annual general wage increases.
"We're pleased that we have reached an agreement with Goodyear that makes our members in Statesville partners in the ongoing turnaround of this company," said Tom Drescher, a member of the local union negotiating committee.
The USWA represents 130 employees at the Statesville facility. Negotiations are continuing for first contracts at two other Goodyear factories—in Asheboro, N.C., and Utica, N.Y.—which were organized by the union in 2004.