Titan and Unions Extend Negotiation Period

The United Steelworkers (USW) has extended its contracts with Titan Tire at facilities in Bryan, Ohio, Des Moines, Iowa, and Freeport, Illinois, while negotiations for a new contract proceed.

Both sides reported progress in the current negotiations, but that there is much left to accomplish. As a result, the parties reached an agreement to extend the current contracts through 17 December so that negotiations may continue.

“We face a difficult challenge in these negotiations,” said USW District 7 Director Jim Robinson, who chairs the union’s Titan Tire bargaining committee. “The company has proposed an aggressive agenda to standardize our contracts and restructure work in our plants.”

Robinson said that the standardization has the potential to equalize working conditions at all three locations and help prevent any potential pitting of one location against another, creating more leverage for the union in future negotiations.

“Major changes take time and attention to negotiate,” Robinson said, “and we are determined to take that time and give that attention.

“We are optimistic that we can reach an agreement, and intend to work hard to do so,” he continued. “And between now and Dec. 17, we expect to continue to produce the quality tyres for which the UT-3 union members are justifiably known.”