TUSCALOOSA, Ala./FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Aug. 21, 2009) — Unionized workers at two of Michelin North America Inc.'s BFGoodrich tire manufacturing plants are voting today on a new three-year master contract.
If ratified, the new pact will cover about 2,500 employees at BFG plants in Tuscaloosa and Fort Wayne. The Tuscaloosa work force is represented by United Steelworkers Local 351L and the Fort Wayne employees by USW Local 715L.
A third USW-represented plant in the BFG chain, located in Opelika, Ala., is slated to close in the fall.
The original three-year contract covering about 3,200 workers at the three sites expired July 18, then was extended another four weeks. The tentative deal was reached Aug. 15.