CTNA Union Negotiations Fail

A new round of negotiations between Continental Tire North America and its union have failed to result in progress that could avert planned layoffs next month, company and union officials have reported. According to the Charlotte Observer, the two parties met for two days of talks but reached no agreements, said Continental spokesman Rick Holcomb. Continental sees the Charlotte plant as the company’s most expensive to operate and is seeking wage and benefit concessions from workers. After workers failed to agree, the company announced plans to lay off about 241 salaried and hourly employees on 15 March then 272 more in late June. Continental employs more than 1,000 workers at its Charlotte plant, where workers earn an average of about $21 an hour, excluding benefits.