Two-day strike ends, contract negotiations continue for Firestone Liberia workers

HARBEL, Liberia—A two-day strike by workers at Firestone Liberia L.L.C. that began Jan. 30 has "been paused" in an ongoing labor dispute with the company.

Firestone Liberia is the West African nation's largest employer and a direct subsidiary of the Firestone Natural Rubber Co.; and an indirect subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Inc.

Workers returned to work Feb. 1 after mediation by Liberia's labor ministry, which the ministry said led to further negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement without work stoppage.

The strike involves 4,000 employees from factory, garage, engineering and medical services departments.

"The members of the Firestone Agricultural Workers Union of Liberia (FAWUL) together with the mother union's (National Timber Wood, Construction and Allied Workers' Union of Liberia) have agreed to return to work as of Feb. 1, 2025, after conducting a work stoppage on Jan. 30-31," Bridgestone Americas told Rubber News Feb. 12. "As part of the return-to-work agreement, Firestone Liberia is actively working with the Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Justice, National Bureau of Concession and members of the Legislative Caucus of Margibi County to resolve all outstanding issues in the best interest of both employees and the company."

CBA talks restarted Feb. 5, Bridgestone said.

The Solidarity Center in Washington D.C., which has spoken for FAWUL in the past, did not immediately return requests for comment from Rubber News for this story.

"All decisions reached during the negotiations—including salary and benefits increases, as well as the union dues adjustment proposed by the union—will be fully implemented when the new CBA (collective bargaining agreement) is signed by all parties and attested by the Ministry of Labor," Bridgestone said. "Until the negotiation is finalized, Firestone Liberia will continue to uphold the Decent Work Act and adhere to the provisions of the current CBA where applicable.

"Firestone remains committed to resolving our differences at the negotiating table and hope we can reach an agreement in a timely fashion, so we can move forward in a productive way."

FAWUL alleges that Firestone Liberia has continually failed to address core issues—involving salary, benefits and the extension of certain terms under a previous CBA, which included third-party workers—despite repeated negotiations.

However, while Firestone Liberia maintains that FAWUL membership pertains to company workers only, FAWUL argues that the entirety of workers—including those employed by the Tapping Contractors—should receive union benefits.

In August 2024, more than 90 percent of third-party contract workers with Firestone Liberia voted to unionize with FAWUL.

The Aug. 31 vote by about 1,850 Tapping Contractor workers saw 1,660 vote for FAWUL representation with about 190 against, according to the Washington D.C.-based Solidarity Center, which promotes climate and labor justice and the protection of worker rights across the world.

However, Bridgestone said Sept. 9 that the contract workers cannot join FAWUL, as Tapping Contractor employees are not direct employees of Firestone Liberia.

FAWUL already respresented 4,000 directly employed workers at Firestone with a collective bargaining agreement reached in 2008—the first CBA in the 82-year history of the plantation. That CBA iteration expired in December and is at the crux of negotiations today.

"Firestone Liberia respects union teammates, union leaders and workers' rights to express themselves in a manner that is legal and safe," Firestone Liberia told Rubber News. "Firestone Liberia acknowledges employees of the third-party Tapping Contractors have the right to establish a union and to address their grievances through the TC, their employers."

The natural rubber farm, established in 1926 by Firestone, covers about 185 square miles and 119,000 acres.

The company supplies Bridgestone with raw and block latex to manufacture tires in the U.S.