PITTSBURGH (March 16, 2004) — The United Steelworkers of America has organized about 350 workers at Goodyear's steel tire cord plant in Asheboro, N.C., the second campaign victory for the union at a company plant in about a month.
An independent arbitrator confirmed a majority of production and maintenance workers in Asheboro signed USWA authorization cards, the union announced March 15.
The successful campaign comes on the heels of the USWA's organizing 130 workers in Statesville, N.C., on Feb. 12. The Statesville tire mold plant became the first Goodyear production facility to organize with a union in more than 30 years, the last being the company's Kelly-Springfield Tire Co. plant in Fayetteville, N.C. in 1972.
The United Rubber Workers union—which organized that facility—merged with the USWA in 1995.
In the latest efforts, the workers at both sites were organized via a neutrality agreement in the 2003 USWA-Goodyear labor agreement, which allowed for 90-day campaign periods at non-union company sites. The neutrality agreement also provides workers with a guaranteed first contract without the risk of a work stoppage.