News From USW: Goodyear's Attempts to Recruit Replacement Workers from Continental's Charlotte Plant Likely Futile

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--News From USW: This week Goodyear has placed ads in several North Carolina newspapers seeking replacement workers for striking United Steelworkers (USW). Modern Industrial Staffing has been hired to find experienced tire builders in this area. Workers from the Continental Tire facility in Charlotte are the only workers in this area skilled at this craft. Well over 1,000 union workers from Continental Tire were laid off when tire production ceased at the Charlotte facility and production was relocated to Brazil, Mexico and South Africa. Many have been without work since May of 2006.

"Goodyear is wasting its time and money thinking it can sweet talk members from this Local into scabbing," says Mark Cieslikowski, President of USW Local 850 representing Continental Tire workers. "Our members held strong when we were on strike for a full year in 1998. Out of 1,400 members, only 11 crossed the picket line," added Cieslikowski. "Goodyear should be using that money and effort to negotiate a fair contract with its regular workforce."

Goodyear forced 15,000 USW members in 16 plants in North America out on strike October 5. Despite innovations delivered by the union and concessions taken by its members and retirees in the 2003 contract that contributed to a billion-dollar turnaround in the company's bottom line since 2002, Goodyear continues to insist on additional plant closings and more concessions in this round of bargaining.

Continental Tire is abandoning retirees and imposing massive reductions in retiree health care beginning in January. Goodyear plans to follow suit and gradually eliminate their obligation to retiree health care as well, proposing that the union set up a trust fund to take over their obligation.

"Goodyear and Continental are a lot alike," says Brian Rich, USW Local 850 Financial Secretary. "They do not feel an obligation to the workers who made them successful. Our members and retirees increased company profits, raised the value of the stock and made the company very competitive. Now they only care about making more money without calculating who will buy its tires with so many of us being left by the wayside."

Modern Industrial Staffing has been stationed at the Renaissance Inn on Coliseum Blvd. in Charlotte to interview potential replacement workers. The agency says it is recruiting workers for the Danville Virginia Goodyear plant. Local 850 members and supporters have been hand billing and visiting the area to ensure the staffing agency does not succeed.