Bridgestone workers reject contract:Strike may occur after five-day notice is filed
|
The balloting, which concluded Friday evening for the union’s approximately 750 voting members, had 85 percent of the rank and file rejecting the company offer with 15 percent voting to approve the agreement. The union committee for United Steel Workers Local 1155 had earlier voted unanimously to recommend the rank and file reject the proposed contract.
“We’re disappointed,” said Dan MacDonald, spokesman for Bridgestone, upon learning of the rejection. “We believe it was a good contract for the company and our union teammates. It was agreed to by the international union so it is disappointing the union committee there would recommend it not be passed.”
According to local union president Ron Vining, the contract, which would have been good for one year, failed to meet the standards the local plant needed. Specifically, Vining pointed to failure to address cost of living increases and the continued use of mandatory overtime.
Vining also said the company wanted to hire underpaid, non-benefit-earning, part-time temporary workers as 10 percent of the workforce. Employees at the local plant have been working without a new contract for well over a year after the last contract was signed in 2000, hours before the workers in the Morrison plant were to walk out on strike.
As for what happens now, Vining has said the union intends to file a five-day notice, at the end of which the workers may strike. Vining did note, however, that going back to the table could be an option if progress can be made.
A strike authorization has already been approved by the rank and file at the local plant, which specializes in truck and bus tires.
MacDonald said the company had not received the five-day notice as of Saturday afternoon.
“The next step is up to the union,” MacDonald said. “We feel like we made a very good offer and we think the other plants should accept it.”
The other plants, including five on the Master Plan (Akron, Ohio; Des Moines, Iowa; LaVergne, Oklahoma City and Russellville, Ark.) and two independent contract plants (LaVergne and Bloomington, Ill.) are scheduled to vote on the contract later this month. Warren County is not on the Master Plan, but instead has an independent contract.
According to Vining, should a decision for work stoppage be made in Warren County, they will try to recruit the support of the other union plants. MacDonald said he did not want to speak for the company negotiating committee as to whether further talks are an option.
The Bridgestone strategy, should workers walk out, remains secret. Vining could not be reached Saturday afternoon for a timetable for a possible continued negotiations or strike. A short breakdown of the vote can be found on the Internet at www.uswa1155.org.