Ratification of the United Steelworkers' (USW) tentative labor contract with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is expected to take place by Sept. 18. USW officials say the agreement requires Goodyear to invest "a minimum of $600 million in capital expenditures to maintain our production facilities with state-of-the-art equipment."
The proposed master contract also protects the following plants from closure: Akron, Ohio; Gadsden, Ala.; Buffalo, N.Y.; Topeka, Kan.; Danville, Va.; and Fayetteville, N.C. "In addition, minimum staffing levels will be maintained and no shift in production from these plants may be made to any non-USW represented facility."
Ballots are being submitted to USW members at seven Goodyear plants.
"The contract must be approved by a majority of the membership and a majority of the plants," says Kevin Johnsen, contract coordinator for the USW.
