(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.”
Bridgestone UK has announced that it has renewed its supply deal with NR Evans Distribution, one of the UK’s largest temperature-controlled commercial vehicle fleets. The manufacturer will provide tyres for the company’s 300-plus vehicles and trailers, helping it deliver more than £500 million-worth of chilled products each year.
The United Steelworkers (USW) announced on September 19 that a new four-year agreement covering some 10,300 USW members at seven Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company plants has been ratified by secret ballot referendum vote, and comes into effect on September 21.
Tire Review – Doran Manufacturing and DriverTech have reached a collaborative development agreement to integrate the Doran 360 TPMS with DriverTech’s Windows-based onboard computing and mobile communications system for Class 7-8 trucks. The companies said that integrating the tire pressure monitoring capability into the DriverTech TruckPC, tyre pressures for tractors and trailers can now be monitored in both the truck cab and at fleet headquarters in real-time. “We are excited to offer the capability to communicate tire pressure information and critical low pressure warnings to both the driver and fleet managers,” said Doran General Manager Jim Samocki. “We are proud to be working with a high-caliber company like DriverTech, to expand their capabilities into tyre pressure monitoring.”
In the US, Ascot Supply Corp. has added Haweka balancer adapters to its line of tyre and wheel service equipment. "Haweka is a world-renowned innovator of specialty tooling for the wheel balancing industry," said Ascot's Danny Spencer. "We are very optimistic about growth opportunities that this premium product brand will offer our members."
Bridgestone UK Ltd has extended its tyre supply agreement with AAH Pharmaceuticals who. Bridgestone/Truck Point have been supplying tyres and tyre service management to AAH since 2006. With 3,800 employees at 20 locations and making over 100,000 deliveries a week, AAH operates over 1,100 commercial vehicles.
United Steelworkers locals approved a new three-year master contract with Michelin North America. The pact covers some 2,500 workers at MNA’s plants in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Fort Wayne, Indiana.
After operating independently for six years, B&J Rocket Sales AG, based in Switzerland, and the USA-based B&J Manufacturing have signed an agreement to merge into one global company. The companies have been in close contact in order to make this agreement possible. The newly named B&J Rocket America, Inc. will continue to service the American continent, while B&J Rocket Sales AG will remain for European, Asian and Pacific Markets.
It is alleged Kumho Tire will lay off 18 per cent of its workforce during September. According to South Korea’s Dong-a Ilbo (East Asia Daily), the tyre maker has filed an application to this effect with the Gwangju Regional Labour Office, and the country’s Labour Ministry stated on August 17 that Kumho will dismiss 706 employees on September 16. In its application, the company cited a number of reasons for its decision, including aggravating business conditions, rising accumulated deficits, and a lower operating rate at its factories due to declining profits. On August 10 Kumho began offering early retirement packages to employees. Only 20 workers have so far applied to take such an offer, however.
General Motors Co. has confirmed it has signed a stock purchase agreement with Koenigsegg Group AB regarding the sale of 100 per cent of the shares of Saab Automobile AB. The deal is expected to conclude in the next few months and will then secure Saab's future. The stock purchase agreement will be subject to agreed closing conditions. Conditions to close the sale include expected funding commitments with Swedish government support and guarantees, as well as transitional assistance from GM, as Saab becomes independent. Saab is about to launch several new cars, developed with General Motors, that are in the final stages of development.
An extra US$39 million will go into Cooper Tire & Rubber’s pension plan to cover its obligations when the company’s Albany factory closes later this year. In an agreement made with the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., announced on August 12, Cooper will fulfil its $62 million obligation by contributing $39 million to the pension plan and waiving its $23 million credit for past over funding.
An agreement has been reached between BFGoodrich and United Steelworkers representatives regarding the approximately 2,500 USW represented employees at the tyremaker’s Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Fort Wayne, Indiana facilities. The agreement addresses the terms BFGoodrich believes necessary in order to remain competitive, however the details of the August 15 tentative agreement will not be disclosed until […]
On August 14 Accuride Corporation announced its entry into a Second Temporary Waiver Agreement with its lenders, effectively extending its original July 1 agreement until September 7.
Goodyear and the United Steelworkers of America have agreed to an extension of their national contract, taking their agreement up to 29 August.
An extension of Bridgestone’s title sponsorship for the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational through to 2014 has been agreed upon. An agreement with the International Federation of PGA Tours was reached and announced on August 9. Bridgestone comments that details of the agreement are currently being finalised; these will be agreed upon in the "coming weeks".
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