News From USW: Union Prepared to Win a Long Fight at Goodyear

PITTSBURGH--News From USW:

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

One Day Longer...

Goodyear wrongly relies on being able to outlast USW

USW Strike and Defense fund can easily support two-year strike

• Overview

Goodyear has been vocal in its belief that it can withstand the effects of having 15 of its North American facilities on strike. Apparently, Goodyear has not reviewed the long history of the USW prevailing against well-financed opponents in long struggles.

• USW is well known for its willingness to fight until it wins - however long it takes

The Steelworkers are well known for their ability to continue a dispute until they achieve their objectives. Recently, there have been extremely long disputes with Wheeling-Pittsburgh, CF&I/Oregon Steel and AK Steel. All of those companies experienced devastating losses of shareholder value and company profit before acceding to the Union’s key demands.

The Tire Industry is no stranger to the USW’s endurance. Upon their merger in the mid-1990’s, the USW and Rubber Workers (URW) expanded the dispute against Bridgestone/Firestone into a world-wide campaign which involved actions by USW members and allied labor unions across the globe before settling more than three years after it began. More recently, the USW won a three-and-a-half year long dispute with Titan Tire.

• USW members Supported by Large Strike & Defense Fund

As part of its commitment to protecting its members, the USW has maintained a robust strike fund to financially support striking members. The fund now has in excess of $150 million – enough to provide strike benefits to its Goodyear members for more than two years.