KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (Aug. 25, 2013) — Members of United Steelworkers unions at BF Goodrich Tire plants in Fort Wayne, Ind., and Tuscaloosa, Ala., have ratified a renewed three-year labor agreement after initially rejecting a deal two weeks ago.
The contract covers approximately 2,450 employees at the two plants, the only two unionized Michelin North America Inc. facilities.
BFG said it is "pleased this agreement was reached in a very cost competitive and challenging environment."
The company did not comment on contract details or say what changes were made to the deal rejected earlier.
USW and BFG negotiators had struck a deal on July 20, but that's the agreement the unions subsequently rejected by a narrow vote on Aug. 8-9. Workers in Tuscaloosa had approved the contract narrowly, but those at Fort Wayne voted it down by more than 100 votes, according to information posted on local's Facebook page.
The locals approved the contract by a better than 2 to 1 margin, according to information posted on the websites of USW Local 351L and Local 715 representing workers at the Tuscaloosa and Fort Wayne plants.
The approval of this contract wraps up contract negotiations between the USW and Goodyear, Bridgestone Americas and Titan International Inc.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. has separate labor agreements with workers at its plants in Findlay, Ohio, and Texarkana, Ark., running through 2016. Its plant in Tupelo, Miss., is non-union.
Yokohama Tire Corp. has a deal in place through May 2014 at its plant in Salem, Va.
Carlisle Transportation Products, Continental Tire the Americas L.L.C., GTY Tire, Hoosier Racing Tire Corp., Trelleborg Wheel Systems/Maine Industrial Tire, Mitas Tires North America Inc., Pirelli Tires L.L.C., Specialty Tires of America Inc. and Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing Inc. all operate non-union plants.