PITTSBURGH (April 4) — The United Steelworkers and Bridgestone/Firestone have reached a tentative agreement on a master contract covering workers at six plants, the union said.
Ron Hoover, USW executive vice president, said the tentative agreement and contract proposals follow the pattern established in the BFGoodrich and Goodyear contracts.
A statement from BFS said it has been the company's goal to achieve contracts that are in the best interests of both parties and allow it to participate successfully in a competitive global marketplace. The company said these agreements are reflective of that goal.
Workers will vote on the tentative pact by April 25, the union said. If the contract is approved, it will expire on July 18, 2009.
Details of the agreement will not be released until the union prints summaries and holds informational meetings for members. The contract covers BFS facilities in Akron; Noblesville, Ind.; Des Moines, Iowa; Russellville, Ark.; LaVergne, Tenn.; and Oklahoma City. Workers in Warren County, Tenn., and Bloomington, Ind., are considering individual contract offers.