Conti Workers in USA Move Closer to Strike Action

Union members at the Charlotte factory of Continental Tire North America Inc. have authorised the group’s leaders to call a strike, Mark Cieslikowski, president of the plant’s United Steelworkers Local 850, was reported as saying in the Charlotte Observer. But union leaders have “a long way to go” before calling a strike, as they are still trying to negotiate a new labour contract with the company’s managers, Cieslikowski said.

The union’s contract expires April 30. Two years ago, Continental stopped production under similar circumstances at a unionised factory in Kentucky. Continental recently said it might “indefinitely suspend” production at its Charlotte plant in the autumn, unless workers agree to steep pay and benefit cuts. The company has said it considers its Charlotte plant is its costliest.

Continental is one of Charlotte’s largest manufacturers and employs about 1,000. Last month, a first round of layoffs, affecting 140 workers, took place