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| 04-15-03: Strike possible at St. Marys Goodyear |
By LANCE MIHM
The Daily Standard
Negotiations between the United Steel Workers and North American Tire
are not progressing as hoped, and a strike at the local Goodyear Tire &
Rubber Co. in St. Marys may be imminent, a union representative reported
this morning.
North American Tire is a division of Goodyear that represents 14 plants
and is handling employee contract negotiations. Ten of the 14 plants,
including the St. Marys factory, are involved in the contract negotiations.
The present contract expires Saturday.
³My understanding is that they are not making any headway,² said Gary
McMullen, representative of Local 200 Steel Workers Union in St. Marys.
³They canıt agree on anything.²
A sticking point has been employee compensation, McMullen said. He
would
not reveal any details but did say the concessions proposed by the company
³puts the workers back into the early 1980s compensation-wise.²
Goodyear workers in St. Marys three weeks ago voted 366-9 to authorize
a
strike if an agreement is not met by the deadline, which is midnight
Saturday. After the deadline, union officials then will decide whether to
strike.
McMullen said he is hopeful a contract agreement can be reached, but
said he feels the chances ³are slim.²
The local union represents 525 employees. Contract talks between the
union and company officials are taking place in Cincinnati.
Chuck Sinclair, vice president of human relations with North American
Tire, is leading negotiations for the company. He could not be reached in
his office or by cell phone for comment Monday or this morning.
³We are staying optimistic,² McMullen said. ³But it donıt look
good.² |
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The Standard Printing
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