Skip to main content
EVENT TRACKER
Keep track of rescheduled, canceled industry events with our COVID-affected event tracker - Powered by Snap Finance
Close
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber & Plastics News
  • European Rubber Journal
tb-logo
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • OPINION
    • CORONAVIRUS
    • AUTO INDUSTRY
    • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • FACTORY FIXES
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • INTERNATIONAL
    • MOTOR SPORTS
    • NEW PRODUCTS
    • RETAIL TIRES
    • SERVICE ZONE
    • SEMA/AAPEX
    • SMALL BUSINESS
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Tire Cologne canceled; rescheduled until 2022
      New round of Paycheck Protection Program funding opens
      Vaccine may usher sense of normalcy
      Cover-up: More retailers requiring face masks to curb COVID
    • Icahn Auto trims fiscal 2020 operating loss despite 14% lower sales
      Oshkosh unit gets contract for new USPS local delivery vehicle
      Sumitomo adds treadwear-detection to 'Sensor Core' toolkit
      New Porsche 911 GT3 to feature Michelin fitment
    • ATD's Schuette: Other 'strategic opportunities' could emerge in wake of Goodyear-Cooper deal
      Analysts see good signs in Goodyear-Cooper deal
      Home Depot turning to Tweel to solve downtime issues in rental business
      Sentury's 10-year global expansion strategy will include plants in North America, Europe
    • Michelin upgrades 2 lines of Energy-branded truck tires
      TravelCenters plans 6 TA Express sites in California in 2021
      Carlisle TyrFil broadens recycling technology options
      U.K. retreader Vaculug to promote tread rubber supplier Vipal
    • USTMA joins coalition supporting passage of Equality Act
      McMahon's Best-One increases its minimum wage to $15
      Oshkosh unit gets contract for new USPS local delivery vehicle
      Conti recalling 94,000 Conti-, General-, Barum-brand LT/SUV tires
    • Sentury's 10-year global expansion strategy will include plants in North America, Europe
      Rebound in car tire demand drives USTMA market forecast for 2021
      Michelin driving for '100% sustainable' tires by 2050
      Bridgestone celebrating 90 years as a business in 2021
    • Bridgestone World Solar Challenge canceled due to pandemic restrictions
      Pirelli, Goodyear ink sedan racing series contracts in Canada, Europe
      Goodyear extends partnership with Nürburgring race circuit
      BFG to support ATV/UTV racers in WORCS series
    • Michelin upgrades 2 lines of Energy-branded truck tires
      Falken revamps winter tire lineup with studless Eurowinter products
      Michelin launching ‘eco-responsible' performance tire for sporty EVs
      Martins Industries launches products in 3 categories
    • Leeds West buys New Mexico Big O store property
      BTS to host three-day virtual sales conference for its dealers
      Our View: Goodyear, Cooper deal historic moment in tire history
      McMahon's Best-One increases its minimum wage to $15
    • Pennzoil offering carbon-neutral lubricants for passenger cars
      Washington dealership uses new-school solution for recruiting auto techs
      Marinucci: Customers may ignore dangerous conditions
      Automotive Lift Institute introduces Check360 inspection, label
    • SEMA scholarships and loan forgiveness now available
      WTC hosting webinar Jan. 20 on load-capacity standards
      Denver's Brian Sump named AAPEX Shop Owner of the Year
      DUB, TIS Wheels founder Myles Kovacs is SEMA Person of the Year
    • Trade groups oppose minimum wage increase proposal
      New stimulus package fixes PPP loan confusion
      Vaccine may usher sense of normalcy
      2020 Review: PPP loans give boost to small businesses
    • Sentury's 10-year global expansion strategy will include plants in North America, Europe
      Industry experts to discuss Goodyear-Cooper transaction in free livestream
      Rebound in car tire demand drives USTMA market forecast for 2021
      Michelin launching ‘eco-responsible' performance tire for sporty EVs
    • Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      7 questions to ask consumers when they need tires for a crossover SUV
      Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      Stocking Tires for Crossover SUVs
      Sponsored By AppointmentPlus
      Three Important Lessons Learned for the Tire Business During a Pandemic
      Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      7 questions to ask consumers when they need tires for a crossover SUV
  • SHOP FLOOR
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Video: Balancing Tire
      An introduction to wheel balancing
      Wheel weights: Balancing form with function
      Choosing the right balancing equipment
    • Video: Demounting
      An introduction to demounting, mounting and inflation
      Staying safe when demounting and mounting tires
      Demounting Equipment
    • Video: Safety
      Introduction: Creating a culture of safety
      Protecting your people with proper hygiene
      Making friends with OSHA
    • Video: Tire Repair
      An introduction to tire repair
      How to properly patch a puncture
      Tire repair: Shining a light on visual inspections
    • Video: TMPS Service
      An introduction to TPMS service
      The importance of proper relearn procedures
      Decoding sensor data for TPMS diagnosis
    • Video: Training
      Intro: Finding and training technicians
      Shop Floor: Scholarships
      Advantages of apprentice program partnerships
    • Video:Vehicle Lifting
      An introduction to lifts and lift safety
      Recommendations for using a jack
      Jack stands for commercial tire service
    • Video: Wheel Torque
      Introduction to proper wheel installation
      Torque check and recheck recommendations
      Using torque sticks to speed service times
  • Multimedia
    • VIDEOS
    • PHOTOS
    • PODCASTS
  • Events
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Resources
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
  • Awards
    • Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
May 21, 2001 02:00 AM

Titan saga continues

Brad Dawson <P>Crain News Service
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    WASHINGTON—Steelworkers in Des Moines, Iowa, got some good news in their ongoing battle against tire and wheel manufacturer Titan International Inc.

    On May 3-just days after marking the third anniversary of the longest strike in U.S. tire industry history-United Steelworkers Local 164 received word that a National Labor Relations Board appeals panel upheld a prior agency ruling finding Titan violated federal labor law in its dealings with the union at its Des Moines farm tire plant.

    But Maurice Taylor Jr., Titan CEO and president, said this decision, like the original ruling, didn't levy monetary damages against the company. Titan's fortunes will change when the case enters the federal court system, the next step in the appeals process, he added.

    The appeal decision, handed down April 30 by a three-judge panel, affirmed the Feb. 11, 1999, ruling of Jerry Hermele, NLRB administrative law judge, that Titan committed several unfair labor practices against members of Local 164. The union's 670 members staffed the Des Moines plant before going on strike on May 1, 1998.

    Mr. Hermele's original 1999 decision ordered Titan to ``cease and desist'' from several unfair labor practices. Those included the transfer, or threat of transfer, of equipment or bargaining unit jobs from Des Moines; threats of permanent replacement of union workers or implementation of a unilateral offer without having reached an impasse; and discontinuing insurance benefits for employees on leave at the time the strike began.

    The latest decision reaffirmed Mr. Hermele's orders to:

    Restore production operations in Des Moines to the level they were when the strike began;

    Provide information to the union regarding the transfer of equipment and jobs, specifically to Titan's Brownsville, Texas, tire plant;

    Bargain in good faith with the union;

    Revoke the implementation of the company's ``last, best and final'' offer from June 1998; and

    Reinstate benefits to 24 employees who were on leave when the strike began.

    Local 164 President John Peno called the decision ``monumental,'' saying: ``All along, we have been certain that we have been doing the right thing. This order, upholding (Mr.) Hermele's original decision, confirms that.''

    The panel's ruling also calls for Titan to post a notice at the Des Moines plant explaining the order and notifying the NLRB within 21 days that the company has taken steps to correct the labor law violations.

    Mr. Taylor, however, still has problems with the interpretation of some of Titan's actions by the NLRB and plans to point them out when he takes his appeal to the 8th Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals.

    For example, he said he still doesn't understand how the conversion of the Des Moines walkout from an economic strike to an unfair labor practice strike-under which the hiring of permanent replacement workers is illegal—is based upon a news conference. The NLRB ruled that Mr. Taylor violated the National Labor Relations Act at a May 14, 1998, press conference by threatening to move equipment to Brownsville and reduce the production work force to 300 if the labor dispute with Local 164 wasn't settled.

    Mr. Taylor maintains his May 14 comments were a result of decisions by tire makers Pirelli Tire North America Inc. and Continental Tire North America Inc. to remove molds from the plant. His statements from the conference also appeared in the NLRB ruling without the questions that prompted them, leaving him wondering if they were taken out of context.

    He also questioned why-when the law forbids him to talk to workers directly during a strike-his comments to the press can be used in an NLRB action as ``threats.''

    Titan also contended in the NLRB hearings that the work transferred out of Des Moines involved small-to-medium tires that were no longer being manufactured there, and that the transfer decision was made before the strike began. The judges didn't agree.

    As long as the dispute's status remains an unfair labor practice strike, Local 164 members can return to work via an unconditional offer.

    If through the appeals process the status was reverted back to an economic strike, the current non-union work- force would be made permanent and could decertify the union as the bargaining unit, Mr. Taylor said. ``Things worked out better than I expected,'' he said. ``I'm interested to see what happens.''

    Local 164 officials, however, are confident the same conclusions will be drawn at the next appeal, as well.

    ``I've seldom seen language that names an individual as being directly responsible for prolonging a labor dispute, as (Mr.) Taylor is here,'' said Tom Johnson, a USWA communications technician. ``The panel upheld every issue complaint. We think that's significant.''

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    tb-logo
    Reader Services
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber & Plastics News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • OPINION
      • CORONAVIRUS
      • AUTO INDUSTRY
      • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • FACTORY FIXES
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • INTERNATIONAL
      • MOTOR SPORTS
      • NEW PRODUCTS
      • RETAIL TIRES
      • SERVICE ZONE
      • SEMA/AAPEX
      • SMALL BUSINESS
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • SHOP FLOOR
      • BALANCING
      • DEMOUNTING
      • SAFETY
      • TIRE REPAIR
      • TPMS
      • TRAINING
      • VEHICLE LIFTING
      • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Multimedia
      • VIDEOS
      • PHOTOS
      • PODCASTS
    • Events
      • ASK THE EXPERT
      • LIVESTREAMS
      • WEBINARS
      • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Resources
      • DIRECTORY
      • CLASSIFIEDS
    • ADVERTISE
    • DIGITAL EDITION
    • Awards
      • Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award