Michelin and USWA Remain at the Table

Although Michelin North America Inc. and the United Steelworkers of America have been under self-imposed deadline pressure to come to terms with the negotiations on a new contract agreement, both parties remained at the table when the fixed date for a conclusion passed by.

“Productive talks continue toward achieving a new agreement, and workers at the three U.S. BFGoodrich tyre manufacturing facilities remain at work,” explained a Michelin spokesman. The tyre manufacturer continues to demand from the union concessions in order to make the plants more competitive and to improve their long term viability. This could mean, in particular, the imposition of wage and benefit cuts on the workforce.

3,400 union employees will be affected by the results of the negotiations in the three facilities of BFGoodrich in Opelika and Tuscalusa (both Alabama) as well as in Fort Wayne (Indiana). BFGoodrich is an operating division of Michelin North America and accounts for an overall production capacity of 75,000 passenger and light truck tyres per day.