Goodyear Workers Accuse USW of Unfair Labour Practices

Former United Steelworkers union members who crossed picket lines during last year’s Goodyear strike in the US have filed a complaint against the union with the National Labor Relations Board. The ex-union members claim that the union’s Local 2 fined each of the workers US$620 while also continuing to collect union dues from their pay despite the termination of their union membership.

The tyre makers state their return to work was necessary for them to continue supporting their families, but according to the complaint, the Local 2 then held an internal trial committee and imposed the fine on each employee who had returned. Since that time, the complainants add, the union “has been interfering with, restraining and coercing employees.”

However the union does not believe it has acted incorrectly. “We feel we were within our rights to do what we did,” said Jack Hefner, vice president of USW Local 2.”As far as we are concerned, it’s over with.” Union officials claim that the workers crossed the picket lines after accepting union-provided assistance such as food and petrol vouchers, and add that to date the $620 fines have not been collected.

A number of the former union members are now working with the National Right to Work Foundation, an organisation that fights compulsory union membership.