Warren County Workers Reject BFNAT Offer

Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire (BFNAT) and the union representing factory workers (USW) reached a tentative agreement, one plant has still rejected the deal. Workers at BFNAT’s Warren County, Tennessee, tyre plant are the only group of factory staff to reject the contract offer. BFNAT reportedly extended Warren County, Tennessee, workers a “similar offer” to workers at the other plants.

“The Executive Board raised issue with several key points within the last best offer and felt is was not in the best interest of the membership of our Local to support this agreement,” read the statement. “The people of our world-class facility deserve a world-class contract,” it concluded.

While details of the tentative agreements were not released, the proposed contract would run only through July 23, 2006, meaning that even if the new master contract is agreed to, BFNAT and the USW will be back at the bargaining table within months.

The master contract between BFNAT and USW covers tyre plants in Akron, Ohio; Des Moines, Iowa; LaVergne, Tennessee.; Oklahoma City; as well as the Firestone tube plant in Russellville, Arkansas and the Firestone air spring plant in Noblesville, Indiana.