TEXARKANA, Ark.—United Steelworkers Local 752 members in Texarkana ratified a new four-year labor agreement with Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.
The agreement was approved with 849 members in favor and 177 voting against, according to a Cooper spokeswoman. Details of the agreement were not immediately available.
The agreement covers more than 1,440 USW members. The firm employs about 1,700 people at Texarkana.
A USW spokesman said the previous deal was set to expire on Jan. 30 after being extended for three years in 2016 as a result of the failed merger between Cooper and Apollo Tyres Ltd.
"We were able to reach a favorable agreement for employees, which are Cooper's greatest asset," said Kerry Halter, president of USW Local 752.
The move upholds positive momentum established over the last several years working together, said Plant Manager Scott Cole.
"We are gratified that Texarkana plant employees recognized the value of the new labor contract and continued to maintain Cooper Tire Texkarana's competitive position in the global tire industry," Cole said.
The USW also represents two other Cooper Tire manufacturing plants—Local 556 at Clarksdale, Miss., and Local 207 in Findlay, Ohio. The company spokeswoman earlier confirmed that those facilities are not included in Cooper's deal with Local 752.
Like the original deal with Texarkana, the USW contracts at Clarksdale and Findlay were extended as a result of the failed Cooper and Apollo merger. At the time of the extension, Clarksdale's extended pact was set to run through Feb. 15 while the Findlay extension runs through Feb. 28, 2020.