Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (GT) workers are back on the job today after a three-month strike where an agreeme
nt was reached on a new three-year contract covering 14,000 employees.
Morale was at an expected level with worker's glad to be back although there was tension felt when some workers reported managers smiling and waving their paychecks at the picket line, according to this article reported on biz.yahoo.com.
Workers at 12 plants in 10 states ended their strike Friday. The agreement included plans to close the Tyler, Texas, tire factory and create a $1 billion health care fund for retirees. The contract passed with an overall membership ratio of 2-to-1 in all 12 locals.
Company worker's north of the border in Canada reached their own separate contracts for each of four locations in Ontario on Friday as well.
Goodyear expects to ultimately save $610 million over the next three years and $300 million a year thereafter. Workers agreed that $1 billion should go to a health care fund for retired union workers' medical benefits. Although lower than the doubled figure they originally asked for it is higher than what the company offered - $660 million.
Comment Preview