TYLER, TX -- Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. announced that it will close its Tyler, TX, tire plant. The move, said Goodyear, was due to its reduction in private brand tire business.

The announcement came even as the plant’s workers remain on strike. The United Steelworkers went on strike Oct. 5, in part because it would not agree to allow Goodyear to close two tire plants, according to the union, including the Tyler plant.

Goodyear did not issue a timeline for closing the plant, but said 1,100 jobs will be eliminated, and the shutdown will save the company some $50 million annually.

Meanwhile, there were strong rumors that the tiremaker would soon announce another plant closure. In online postings, some striking workers claim they were told that an announcement about another plant closure would be made within a few days.

USW leaders say that Goodyear this week will begin bringing in temporary workers at its Gadsden, Ala., plant, one of the facilities rumored to be on the chopping block.

"We must take the steps necessary to reduce our costs and improve our competitive position," said Jon Rich, president of Goodyear’s North American Tire unit. "While this is an extremely difficult decision for everyone involved, it was required to help turn around our North American business."

Reports say that Goodyear is bringing temporary workers to the Tyler plant to assist in the shutdown.