Goodyear USW Agreement "Reflects Common Competitiveness Goal": Kramer

(Tire Review) Following the ratification of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co’s new, four-year master labour contract was ratified by members of the United Steelworkers union on 19 September, Rich Kramer, COO and president of Goodyear’s North American tyre unit suggested that, “This agreement reflects the commitment of Goodyear and the USW to continue to work together to achieve our common goal of world-class competitiveness.”

He continued that the new master contract and recently completed local agreements build on significant changes made in the 2003 and 2006 agreements and address the core issues of productivity, compensation costs and flexibility impacting the competitiveness of the company’s North American tyre business.

The seven plants covered by the master agreement are: Akron, Ohio; Buffalo, New York; Danville, Virginia.; Fayetteville, North Carolina; Gadsden, Alabama; Topeka, Kansas; and Union City, Tennessee. It covers approximately 10,300 workers. Goodyear will hold an investor conference call to discuss details of the contract at 14:00 (GMT-5) on 28 September.