Cooper Workers Walk Out

(Akron/TR) Union workers at Cooper Tire & Rubber Co’s Texarkana, Arkansas, plant walked off the job on Saturday night after failing to gain a new contract covering the passenger and light truck/SUV tyre plant. Texarkana workers, represented by the United Steelworkers of America (USWA) Local 752, went out on strike at midnight when their previous contract expired. The USWA had apparently received a proposed contract offer from Cooper, but did not put the offer to a vote before walking out. Cooper officials said they are hopeful that “talks will continue toward resuming production as quickly as possible.”