CINCINNATI (Aug. 8, 2003)—Negotiators for Goodyear and the United Steelworkers of America restarted master contract talks Aug. 6, but it didn't take long for the union to reject a modified company proposal.
Goodyear presented the USWA with a new offer—similar to earlier proposals with movement on some issues, a union spokesman said—but the negotiating committee told the company the proposal was unacceptable, according to a report on a USWA Web site.
The offer lacks commitment from the company on job and plant protection, as well as health care issues for active and retired members, the spokesman said. The union planned on responding with a counteroffer by Aug. 7 or 8, he said.
The new bargaining sessions—the first since contract discussions broke up June 28—began with Jon Rich, president of Goodyear's North American Tire unit, explaining the company's position on many of the critical issues that have separated the two sides since talks started March 13 in Cincinnati.
Goodyear was chosen as the target company for tire industry negotiations April 7.