Union, Goodyear Back to the Table, Remain Far Apart

(Akron/Tire Review) Even as both sides continue to pick over the fine print of the United Steelworkers (USW) new three-year master contract with Michelin North America, Goodyear and the Steelworkers reportedly remain far apart in their contract talks.

Goodyear’s union workers continue on the job, working on a day-to-day basis off their now expired contract. The USW’s deal with MNA has been established as the “pattern contract” for ongoing talks with Goodyear and now stalled talks with Bridgestone/Firestone.

Goodyear and USW negotiators returned to the bargaining table 11 August, after both sides took a number of days to review the fine points of the MNA-USW deal.

However, it is not expected that Goodyear will follow the designated pattern contract, and, apparently, the USW is not expecting it to do so. In its most recent Solidarity Alert to Goodyear workers, the USW said, “Our contract at Goodyear will not be a copy of the one at BFGoodrich (MNA) and both sides understand that to be the case.”

At the same time, the union has begun suggesting that a strike is possible. “We are still very far apart. Unless the Company abandons its agenda, we will not reach an agreement,” the union said in the Solidarity Alert. “If, after reviewing the pattern agreement, Goodyear returns with the same or different ‘cut & gut’ proposals, we will still be far apart. We will spend time at the bargaining table and, if possible, reach agreement.

“The union will continue to prepare itself to strike, if necessary, in order to achieve a fair, equitable contract. If forced to strike, we will go one day longer than the company and we will prevail.”

For its part, Goodyear has issued no recent statements regarding the status of the contract talks, its position or its take on the MNA-USW deal.