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Steelworkers Go To Court To Force Bridgestone/Firestone To Arbitrate Grievances

22 December 1997

Steelworkers Go To Court To Force Bridgestone/Firestone To Arbitrate Grievances

    NASHVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 22 -- The United Steelworkers of
America (USWA) has asked the Federal District Court in Nashville to order
Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. to arbitrate hundreds of grievances brought by the
union in behalf of members at four Bridgestone/Firestone facilities.
    In a lawsuit filed December 19, the union contends that the company's
refusal to arbitrate the grievances violates both the union's collective
bargaining agreements with the company and the Labor Management Relations Act
of 1947.
    "We have more than 200 grievances to be arbitrated at four
Bridgestone/Firestone locations," said John Sellers, executive vice president
of the USWA Rubber/Plastics Industry Conference.  "This is in blatant
violation of our contract with this company and shows a pattern of disregard
for our agreed-upon procedure."
    The grievances in dispute came from USWA Locals 138-L in Noblesville,
Ind.; 310-L in Des Moines, Iowa; 998-L in Oklahoma City, Okla., and 1055-L in
LaVergne, Tenn.  The USWA also represents workers at Bridgestone/Firestone
plants in Akron, Ohio; Decatur, Ill., and Russellville, Ark.
    "The company has refused to arbitrate certain grievances altogether and
has so delayed arbitrating others that the procedure has been seriously
eroded," Sellers said.  "As a result, terminated employees and others have
suffered unduly.  This company should know better.  When grievances fester, it
benefits neither the union nor the company."
    In its lawsuit, the union asks the court to issue preliminary and
permanent injunctions compelling the company to arbitrate the grievances.

SOURCE  United Steelworkers of America