Union Asks Continental to Reconsider Mayfield Closure

Union representatives from Continental’s Mayfield tyre plant have asked company officials to reconsider a decision to close its Mayfield plant. The United Steelworkers North America officials are hoping for an answer next week, when they are due to meet with a Continental Tire North America delegation. In an attempt to salvage some of the 827 jobs that could be lost, Union representatives made a cost-cutting proposal during talks last Friday and Saturday in Paducah, said Terry Beane, local union president. He said the union asked Continental for a formal statement as to whether the company would reconsider its late-June announcement to cease tyre production by 31 December.

“We told them that before we went any further we needed an answer from upper management if there is any interest in building tyres at the Mayfield plant,” said Mr Beane. “The bottom line is we presented them with a cost-saving plan and we’re supposed to have an answer 28 September.”

Mr Beane said talks will resume in Paducah, saying the deal included pledged assistance from city and county government. “We’ll do everything we can to help that situation,” said Graves County judge-executive, Tony Smith. “But whatever we do is only a small part of their big picture.”