USW Says Goodyear's Strategy Requires Continuing Cooperation With The Union

New products must increasingly be manufactured in USW-represented plants

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 27 -- The United Steelworkers (USW) said today that it welcomed Goodyear's recent comments that acknowledged the union's central role in the company's recent turnaround, and looks forward to producing more "high margin, high-technology" products under contract provisions.

The USW's current contract with Goodyear has enabled the company to introduce new products to the marketplace and rebound financially, while providing job and retirement security to the union's active and retired members.

"Our Union has shown that it can be an extremely innovative partner," said USW executive vice president Ron Hoover, the union's Goodyear contract coordinator, "provided that we're engaged in a fully informed and open dialogue with the company, and as long as the company is mindful of its substantial and continuing obligations to our members, retirees and their communities.

"Our members look forward to building the new products that Goodyear is developing," Hoover added.

The USW represents workers at seven of Goodyear's North America tire production facilities. The company currently operates three non-USW represented tire plants, one in the U.S. and two in Canada.

The union's current contract, set to expire in July 2006, provides for minimum employment levels and guaranteed capital investments. While Hoover acknowledged that health care and pension costs are a real issue for any company operating in North America, he expressed confidence that the USW and Goodyear can again work together to maintain excellent benefits while controlling costs.

The 2003 contract also outlined productivity goals on which both sides have worked hard. Hoover said that, while there are still some improvements to be made, all the hard work is paying off for both the union's members and Goodyear.

The USW represents more than 850,00 workers in North America. Some 70,000 of them work in the tire, rubber and plastics industry.