Cooper Tire to Close Iowa Distribution Centre

Cooper Tire intends to close its Cedar Rapids, Iowa distribution centre later this year, local newspaper The Gazette reports. According to an article published on June 4, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the representative union for employees at the site, has been informed and union representatives have begun negotiations over severance payments.

Deb Hansen, president of the local union chapter, says that no definite date has been given for the centre’s closing, and further commented that the union wasn’t surprised when Cooper announced its intention to close the site. “They had been tossing it around for some time, even when we were negotiating,” Hansen said, adding that the economic has probably also contributed to the decision.