Union ratifies BFGoodrich contract (Woodburn; Opelika, Ala.; and Tuscaloos

[Omaha Steve]

Full story: http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/news/local/15210826.htm



Posted on Sun, Aug. 06, 2006
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Union ratifies BFGoodrich contract
By Jenni Glenn
The Journal Gazette

BFGoodrich Tire Manufacturing workers ratified a three-year contract late Saturday, ending two weeks of uncertainty about the future of more than 1,100 workers at the Woodburn plant.

The contract will cover workers at BFGoodrich Tire plants in Woodburn; Opelika, Ala.; and Tuscaloosa, Ala.

United Steelworkers of America members at all three plants approved the contract, BFGoodrich spokesman Mark Burd said.

He did not know the breakdown of voting results at each plant. The union confirmed the ratification on its Web site early today.

The agreement is expected to reduce operating costs significantly and will help the plants be more competitive, according to a prepared statement from BFGoodrich Tire.

About 3,450 workers at three BFGoodrich Tire plants voted on the contract between Tuesday and Saturday. Workers at two of the three plants had to vote in favor of the contract in order for it to be ratified.

Joe Gengo, vice president of United Steelworkers Local 715 in Woodburn, had said Saturday evening that he expected union members to be divided over the proposal.

Workers who voiced their thoughts on the plan at meetings at Memorial Coliseum on Tuesday and Wednesday tended to view the terms unfavorably, he said.

“I’m thinking it’s going to be fairly close,” Gengo said at the time.

[madrchsod]

1. not bad -not good

the new hire 4 year has become the norm now..i worked in a non-union printing plant for 3 years and got a 50 cent raise during those years.they gave one guy a penny raise over one and half years. so i`d be happy with at least knowing i would have a union contract backing me up. i`ve been thru the same kind of bullshit with the esop plan at the steel mill i worked at..i was one of the few who got any money back when the company went public again and of course the mill then went bankrupt