Cooper pulling equipment from Findlay

Tire Review reports that Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. has begun moving tyre production equipment out of its Findlay, Ohio, tyre plant. The US magazine reports that late last week the tyre maker was moving the equipment, even as the 1,050 union workers there continued picketing outside of the plant, where they have been locked out since 28 November.

Tire Review contacted Cooper for a comment on reports that the tyre-maker was removing the equipment, but received no response. In a comment released to both the Toledo Blade and Findlay Courier, Cooper stated: “In addition to using highly skilled temporary workers to ramp up productivity in the Findlay plant, we have also taken other steps that include rebalancing our global capacity and moving some equipment from the Findlay plant to our other plants in North America, Europe and Asia.”

USW Local 207 president Rod Nelson told the local media that picketing members saw equipment being moved out of the plant, and that the union is concerned. “We’re always concerned when machinery is being taken out of the plant,” he told the Courier. “We want to see new machinery being brought in.” (Tire Review)

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