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Bridgestone Faces Growing Pressure Worldwide To Settle Negotiations

1 September 2000

ICEM: Bridgestone Corp. Faces Growing Pressure Worldwide To Settle U.S. Labor Negotiations

    WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 On the eve of the expiration of
contract extensions at nine unionized tire facilities in the United States,
Bridgestone Corp. is facing increasing pressure from its workforce around the
world to settle the U.S. collective bargaining negotiations.
    Letters from unions representing thousands of Bridgestone workers in eight
countries have been sent this week to Yoichirio Kaizaki, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of the Japanese-based tire multinational, expressing support
for the United Steelworkers of America (USWA) and urging the company to settle
contract negotiations with the union before the deadline of midnight, Friday
night.  In addition, these unions have sent worker delegations to see local
Bridgestone/Firestone plant managers in their respective countries this week
to deliver the same message.
    Among the unions -- all of which represent Bridgestone employees -- which
have thus far taken action are Lastik-Is in Turkey; the National Union of
Metalworkers of South Africa; the Australian Liquor, Hospitality and
Miscellaneous Workers Union; the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in the
U.S.; the Federation de la Metallurgie in Canada; the Frente Unico de Borracha
of Brazil; Sindicato Unico de Trabajadores del Neumatico of Argentina; and
Sindicato de Trabajadores Bridgestone-Firestone of Chile.
    These unions, together with the USWA, are affiliated at the global level
to the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers'
Unions (ICEM), which unites 20 million workers worldwide.  Earlier this month
in St. Louis, Bridgestone union leaders from around the world met and pledged
their "support and solidarity" to the USWA in this round of bargaining, and
pledged to call on their members "to engage in solidarity activities" in
support of the USWA in the event of a strike.
    Adding his voice to the demand for a settlement was Fred Higgs, ICEM
General Secretary, who today urged Mr. Kaizaki to "amicably and expeditiously
reach a just new agreement" with the USWA.  Higgs indicated that the ICEM is
prepared to mobilize its affiliates around the world in support of the USWA
but expressed his hope that "a mutually agreeable settlement can be reached
without a strike."
    The U.S. collective bargaining negotiations currently underway affect some
8,000 workers at Bridgestone operations in five states.