News From USW: AFL-CIO President Sweeney, USW President Gerard to Hold Media Teleconference on Nationwide Day of Action to Protest Goodyear’s Betrayal of Workers, Retirees

PITTSBURGH--News From USW: On Friday, December 15 at 10:30 AM (ET), AFL-CIO President John Sweeney and United Steelworkers (USW) President Leo Gerard will hold a media teleconference to discuss the nationwide labor movement protest this Saturday of Goodyear’s betrayal of U.S. workers and retirees. Union and community activists will join in actions at more than 100 tire store locations across the country to condemn Goodyear’s assault on the living standards of its workers and abandonment of health care for some 30,000 retirees.

The effort is intended to educate the public about the company’s proposal to cut jobs and drastically scale back health care coverage for Goodyear workers and retirees. In addition to Sweeney and Gerard, a striking USW member will join the call on Friday to offer perspective from the front lines of the strike.

Some 15,000 experienced Goodyear workers at 16 facilities were forced out on strike Oct. 5 due to the company’s demands to gut their health care, close factories and increase tires being imported from China and other low-wage countries – even after the workers took steps to help Goodyear get through a rough time in 2003, when it was on the brink of bankruptcy. Goodyear’s stock has risen to almost five times as much as it was in early 2003, and top executives have awarded themselves millions of dollars in bonuses. The company is nonetheless threatening to walk away from its health care obligations to some 30,000 retirees, offering a one-time fund that is a fraction of the company’s current retiree health care liability.

WHO:     AFL-CIO President John Sweeney
         USW President Leo Gerard
         Striking USW Goodyear worker

WHAT:    Goodyear Strike and Nationwide Day of Action

WHEN:    Friday, December 15 at 10:30 a.m.

CALL-IN: Contact 202-637-5018 for call-in information in advance of
         the call