USW: Ratified, satisfied with labor pacts

PITTSBURGH—Labor contract agreements covering nearly 12,000 workers across three major tire manufacturers in the U.S. have been ratified by the United Steelworkers.

Collective bargaining pacts with Michelin/BFGoodrich (about 1,800 workers) and Bridgestone Americas (about 4,000 workers) were ratified Aug. 19, while a new CBA was ratified by union workers with Goodyear (about 6,000 workers) Aug. 24.

None of the specific vote counts were disclosed by the USW or the tire companies. The USW said all three contracts were ratified "with an overwhelming majority of members."

"The hard work of our negotiating committees and the solidarity of the membership throughout the industry have been rewarded with fair contracts for everyone," said Tom Conway, USW International president. "We made it a priority to raise wages and retain cost-of-living adjustments without giving in to management's demands that we sacrifice quality, affordable health insurance options."

According to Conway, USW members achieved gains in wage increases, cost-of-living adjustments, lump sum payments for ratification of the contracts, improved pension and retirement options and access to improved health care.

In response to labor market constrictions for employers and worker retainment, new hires for the companies now can accrue vacation and progress through the early portions of wage scales more quickly.

The Goodyear workers are represented by the USW at locations in Akron; Tokepa, Kansas; Danville, Va.; and Fayetteville, N.C.

Bridgestone employees are represented by the USW at locations in Akron; Des Moines, Iowa; Bloomington, Ill.; Russellville, Ark.; and LaVergne and Morrison, Tenn.

Michelin workers producing the BFGoodrich-brand tires are represented by the USW in Tuscaloosa, Ala.; and Fort Wayne, Ind.

A tentative agreement between the USW and Goodyear was reached July 30, the Akron tire maker confirmed, after a 24-hour extension was implemented by the USW an hour before the previous master contract was set to expire July 29.

A tentative agreement was reached July 31 between the USW and Michelin, according to USW Local 351, also by way of a 24-hour extension before that previous contract expired July 30.

The Bridgestone tentative pact was reached between the two sides July 29.

The USW-Goodyear labor pact is for four years and covers about 6,000 workers at Locals 2L (Akron), 307L (Topeka, Kan.), 831L (Danville, Va.) and 959L (Fayetteville, N.C.), according to Goodyear.

Goodyear declined additional comment following the Aug. 24 ratification vote by the USW.

The Akron-based tire maker said prior to the tentative agreement being reached in late July that its key issues in the negotiations included productivity, where its operations are competitive within North America and around the globe; operational flexibility; and rising health care 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 committee told its members during negotiations that Goodyear could afford a fair agreement because it has more than $1 billion in cash availability, and that Goodyear Americas made more than $900 million in profits in 2021.

In addition, they claimed that Goodyear "demand(ed) the right to eliminate the Plant Protection Letter," which provides job security to USW members.

The Plant Protection Letter remained in the CBA that ultimately was ratified, according to the USW.

The CBA reached between the USW and Michelin, ratified by the USW Aug. 19, covers about 1,800 workers at Local 351L in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Local 715L in Fort Wayne, Ind.

"We are pleased employees in Ft. Wayne and Tuscaloosa have voted to ratify the new collective bargaining agreement," a Michelin spokesperson told Rubber News Aug. 23. "These sites are important to the B.F. Goodrich brand and its place in the Michelin Group.

"This agreement is a positive step for employees and our business."

From the USW's perspective, sticking points during negotiations centered on retainment of cost-of-living provisions; bonuses related to attendance; bonuses related to production; maintaining the same language as the previous CBA in regards to health care; and no changes to overtime.

"It is important that we are competitive to protect our jobs and our futures," the USW wrote to its members July 27 on the negotiations portion of its website. "With the current economic environment, we also understand that our families need to have acceptable wages and suitable benefits.

"We will continue to fight to reach these goals."

Production during the COVID-19 pandemic also was a major point of contention between the USW and Michelin during negotiations, ultimately taking the form of "bonuses related to attendance" in the tentative agreement.

"These issues include attendance and the importance of being present to be able to meet our production commitments," the USW wrote to members of the two locals in a July 21 update on negotiations.

The USW and Bridgestone Americas reached a tentative agreement in late July on a master contract that would cover between 3,000 (Bridgestone estimate) and 4,000 workers (USW estimate) at six company facilities.

"These contracts reinforce our continued commitment to U.S. teammates as an essential pillar of Bridgestone's global competitiveness," a Bridgestone Americas spokesperson told Rubber News Aug. 24. "We greatly appreciate the spirit of problem-solving and mutual respect that all parties brought to the negotiating process.

"Just as critically, these new agreements will play an important role in helping Bridgestone attract and retain critical manufacturing talent that underpins our capacity to innovate, grow and serve our customers with superior quality."

Kevin Johnsen, chairman of the USW Rubber and Plastic Industry Council, said local union leaders were key in making sure membership concerns 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 told Rubber News following the tentative agreement reached in late July. "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 at the time that the agreement "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 ... 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.