(Texarkana/Tire Review) Roughly 1,000 people turned out for a union-organised rally supporting the 1,600 workers that went on strike nearly a week ago at Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.’s Texarkana, Arkansas plant. David Boone, union president, said the union’s executive committee received a 95 per cent backing in a vote granting the authority to call a strike.

Local media reports stated that, after negotiations had broken off, Cooper requested that a federal mediator enter the contract negotiations. A staff representative for the United Steelworkers of America (USWA) has reportedly agreed, and the mediations are expected to begin later this week.

Meanwhile, one analysts report estimated that the break in production could cost Cooper as much as $750,000 per day. At full production, the Texarkana plant produces approximately 14.6 million tyres each year.