AKRON (Oct. 11) — Goodyear has laid off 300 workers temporarily at its Asheboro, N.C., wire products plant as the ongoing United Steelworkers strike reduces the need for the plant´s wire, a spokesman for the tire maker said.
About 15,000 union workers began their strike Oct. 5 after talks failed to produce a master contract. Goodyear had then instituted contingency plans to use salaried workers to maintain supply.
The layoffs in Asheboro were instituted because Goodyear has plenty of wire on hand already for its tire plants.
"We´re operating at a reduced operating level, and we have the wire we need," the spokesman said. Akron-based Goodyear continues to make tires at its non-union plants in Lawton, Okla., and Napanee, Ontario.