USW, Bridgestone reach tentative contract agreement

PITTSBURGH—The United Steelworkers and Bridgestone Americas have reached a tentative agreement on a master contract that would cover about 4,000 workers at six company facilities.

The two sides came to terms early July 29 shortly after the prior contract had expired.

Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh-based USW is continuing talks with Goodyear and Michelin, which have master agreements that expire July 29 and 30, respectively.

The tentative pact with Bridgestone is for USW locals in Des Moines, Iowa; Akron; Bloomington, Ill.; Russellville, Ark.; and La Vergne and Warren County, Tenn.

Kevin Johnsen, chairman of the USW Rubber and Plastic Industry Council, said the local union leaders were key in making sure the concerns of the membership were addressed during negotiations.

"We came to the table prepared to negotiate in good faith for a fair contract, and management made us fight for it every step of the way," Johnsen said in a statement. "We are proud of what we have accomplished thanks to the unity, strength and solidarity of our members and activists across all of the Bridgestone locations."

Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone said in a statement that the tentative agreement, if ratified, "will ensure thousands of U.S. teammates in five states maintain good-paying jobs and strengthen the global competitiveness of the company's U.S. manufacturing facilities."

"The tentative agreement speaks to the commitment from Bridgestone and the USW to continue to support current operations in the six communities while maintaining flexibility to invest in future growth opportunities so we can continue to serve our customers," the firm said.

Johnsen said the union's bargaining committee will present the proposed contract to the membership for ratification, and wouldn't disclose any details of the pact until union members have a chance to review it with their elected representatives.

"Our members have earned and deserve fair wages, benefits and working conditions," he said. "The proposed contract builds on decades of collective bargaining progress with hard-fought economic and contract language improvements."

No timetable was given on when the ratification process would take place.

The master contract between Goodyear and the USW expires July 29. It covers USW members at plants in Akron; Danville, Va.; Fayetteville, N.C.; and Topeka, Kan.

In an update July 27 to members on its bargaining information site, the USW said its negotiating committee had met with Goodyear for the past nine weeks and, while some progress had been made, "we have not achieved what we deserve and what is fair."

Membership has granted strike authorization, according to the update, but such approval is standard in such negotiations.

In the update, the committee outlined issues where there are differences between Goodyear and the USW. Major points of contention came in terms of wage increases; the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA); health care costs; pension contributions; new hire wage progression; and vacation.

The committee told its members that Goodyear can afford a fair agreement because it has more than $1 billion in cash and cash availability, and that Goodyear Americas made more than $900 million in profits in 2021. In addition, they claimed that Goodyear "demands the right to eliminate the Plant Protection Letter," which provides job security to USW members.

"We are prepared to negotiate a responsible settlement, but we are not buying into the company's demands for concessions or a contract that does not reward essential workers for our contributions to the company's success," the bargaining committee said in the update.

Goodyear, which declined to comment on the negotiations, does have a negotiations website.

The Akron-based tire maker said its key issues in the negotiations include productivity, where its operations are competitive within North America and around the globe; that it has needed operational flexibility; and the need to face rising benefits costs.

"Like many American manufacturing companies whose products must compete in a global market, cost is a significant challenge for Goodyear" the firm said.

The expiring Michelin master contract covers tire factories in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Fort Wayne, Ind. The status of those negotiations was not available through a USW spokesman, and a Michelin official could not be immediately reached for comment.