Bridgestone steelworkers talks break down

Talks between the United Steelworkers of America and Bridgestone/Firestone broke off in St. Louis yesterday. ”We told them the offer that was on the table is not something we could work from,” said Chuck Armstrong, co-ordinator for the union’s Bridgestone/Firestone Council.

The company’s offer sought concessions on pension and health-care benefits and did not address key items found in the Steelworkers’ labour agreement reached with Goodyear Tire and Rubber this past summer. Bridgestone/Firestone spokes-man Dan McDonald declined to go into details but said the company and the union faced many ”hard issues” that needed to be discussed to reach a consensus..