USWA Ratifies Contract at Goodyear Mould Facility

The USWA has reported that members in Statesville, North Carolina plant have “overwhelmingly ratified a three-year contract with Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. The agreement represents the first the first contract at the plant since workers collectively chose the USWA as bargaining representative in February 2004.

According to the USWA, 95 per cent of those eligible to vote were in favour of the new agreement, which provides workers with a network of job security measures. “Provisions that restrict the company’s ability to contract-out work will maximize the utilisation of our skilled and experienced members,” said local union negotiating committee member, Terry Gentle.

“We’re pleased that we have reached an agreement with Goodyear-Statesville that makes our members in Statesville partners in the ongoing turnaround of this company,” added Tom Drescher, local union negotiating committee member.

The USWA represents 130 employees at the Statesville facility. Overall, the USWA represents more than 18,000 members employed at 14 Goodyear tyre and engineered product facilities throughout the US. First contract negotiations continue at facilities in Asheboro, NC and in Utica, NY.