Michelin Strike Possible; No Contract Extension for BFNAT

(Akron/Tire Review) Unless significant headway is made, say news reports, union workers at three Michelin North America plants were planning to go on strike when their current contract with the tyremaker expires at midnight July 23.

Strike authorization votes have been taken at the three plants – Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Opelika and Tuscaloosa, Alabama – and were passed by at least 95 per cent.

The United Steelworkers bargaining committee claims the two sides remain far apart. Meanwhile, talks between the USW and Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire have been recessed, and the union has refused to extend its current contract on a day-to-day basis, claiming that it would not accept the extension terms offered by the tyremaker.

Reportedly those terms included ending job security provisions. Without a contract – the current pact expires at midnight Saturday – the workers can strike and/or the company can impose cutbacks.

Despite this, the union has urged all of its BFNAT members to report to work for their regular shifts. The union said that talks would resume after a pattern agreement is reached with Michelin.

In a statement, BFNAT said is was disappointed that an extension could not be reached, but that “Decisions about plant staffing, production and other items must be based on market conditions and should not be guaranteed by contract, nor by contract extensions.”