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Steelworkers Win First Labor Board Ruling Against General Tire

30 April 1999

Steelworkers Win First Labor Board Ruling Against General Tire

    CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 29 -- The National Labor Relations
Board, Region 11, has announced that it will issue a Complaint against
Continental General Tire charging the company with violations of Federal labor
law during negotiations with the United Steelworkers of America (USWA Local
850) for a new labor agreement at its Charlotte plant.
    The NLRB's Complaint will allege that the Company both failed to and
unreasonably delayed in providing information to the union that is necessary
for bargaining.
    Since September 20, 1998, the United Steelworkers of America has been on
strike against the Company in protest of these and other unfair labor
practices committed by Continental General during negotiations.
    Earl Propst, President of USWA Local 850, called the ruling the first in
what he expects will be a series of union victories.
    "Our members have been victimized by this Company's unlawful conduct since
day one of these negotiations," Propst said.  "We're confident that the Board,
after reviewing all of the evidence which we've submitted, will reach the
conclusion that this Company is flagrantly violating the rights of our members
in a lot more ways."
    Propst said that Continental General has consistently been violating the
law in connection with its dealings with the Union throughout these
negotiations, and added he expects future rulings will result in further
rulings against General.  While a number of charges against the Company remain
outstanding, Propst states that he is confident that these too will be
resolved in favor of the Union.