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Goodyear Day of Action Taking a Stand for the Middle Class |
Just as striking Goodyear workers are preparing to stage a National Day of Action, the company agreed to return to the bargaining table. The United Steelworkers (USW) announced today that Goodyear offered to return to the bargaining table for meaningful negotiations and that talks would resume Dec. 18.
The massive protest against Goodyear this weekend will still go on, the union says. And when the thousands of union members and community activists protest against Goodyear this weekend, they also will be taking a stand to save our nation’s middle class.
As many as 75,000 protestors will gather at more than 150 Goodyear tire stores around the country tomorrow in one of the union movement’s largest actions targeting a single employer in recent years. They will be supporting some 15,000 USW members who were forced out on strike Oct. 5 after the company refused to budge on its demand to close its third plant in four years, while it is increasing tire imports from factories in countries such as China that pay workers 42 cents an hour. In the past two years alone, Goodyear has invested $18 million in a plant in China and is increasing production there to 5.3 million tires a year.
In addition, Goodyear wants to abandon its obligation to provide health care benefits for 30,000 retirees by making a one-time payment to a fund that would provide inferior benefits.
Speaking during a teleconference today, Kevin Johnson, a Goodyear employee from Huntsville, Ala., whose plant was closed three years ago, said:
The retirees built this company. They don’t deserve to be left behind.
You can show your support for the Goodyear workers and their struggle by joining in a National Day of Action event. To find an event near you, click here.
The Dec. 16 actions also will point out how workers came to Goodyear’s aid several years ago by taking wage and benefit freezes when the company experienced financial hardship. Now that Goodyear is making a profit—nearly $500 million last year—the company is walking away from its promises of jobs.
Not only is the nation’s middle class at risk by Goodyear’s actions, USW President Leo Gerard says Goodyear is jeopardizing the safety of America’s troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was referring to a USW statement yesterday blasting Goodyear’s neglect in responding to the union’s long-standing offer to meet the challenge of fully satisfying the demand for tires on Humvees used by soldiers in Iraq.
Yesterday, Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, requested the company and union work out a deal to return 200 striking workers to a production plant in Topeka, Kan., to meet the military needs for its Humvees.
Although Goodyear continues to claim that it is meeting the military’s production needs, Hunter says that with production levels reduced by 35 percent, there is a shortage within the military.
The 200-worker proposal originated with the USW and was part of a plan developed by Robert Tripp, USW Local 307 president at the Goodyear-Topeka facility, who said in the statement:
We clearly understand the needs of our soldiers. Many of our members are veterans. We are more than willing to do our part to provide them with the best equipment possible.
But Goodyear has refused to accept the union’s offer and denies there is a problem, according to the union.
Two months ago, Goodyear hired replacement workers to make tires in the struck plants. In another insult to workers, management borrowed $1 billion to fight the strike and another $1 billion in unsecured notes. Wall Street investors scooped up all the bonds within hours, showing once again that Big Business cares more about the bottom line than the lives and welfare of the people who create the profits.
AFL-CIO President John Sweeney says “Goodyear’s message is clear.”
Whatever Wall Street wants it gets, no matter the devastation it causes to our communities and working women and men. Well, tomorrow the union movement’s message will be even more clear. Enough is enough.
We’re not only going to stand up for every Goodyear worker, we’re going to stand up for our nation’s beleaguered middle class. And let me reassure that, while tomorrow may be the first day of national action against Goodyear, it won’t be the last.
Says Gerard:
What Goodyear is doing is not only a disgrace, it’s dangerous. They’re driving thousands of jobs out of the country and increasing investment in low-wage countries, putting our middle class at risk.
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