PITTSBURGH — Based on statements made by United Steelworkers of America (USWA) negotiators in Pittsburgh, workers at unionized Michelin North America plants in the U.S. could go on strike if a new contract isn’t reached by USWA’s Aug. 11 deadline.
In an Aug. 4 statement to its members at Michelin plants in Ft. Wayne, Ind., Tuscaloosa, Ala. and Opelika, Ala., USWA negotiators said, “Strikes are never easy. Calling a strike is never easy. Strikes should always be considered a last resort. But there are times when there is no other choice to make. If Michelin stays their current path, we will have no choice.”
The statement said that Groupe Michelin recently reported positive first half results, yet is seeking significant wage, insurance and work rule concessions.
“We ask each of you to tell every member of management that you encounter that you are not willing to take concessions to support corporate greed,” read the statement to union members. “We have earned our wages and benefits, and we aren’t going to surrender them to help Michelin finance new plants in Eastern Europe or China.”
Michelin operates 15 tire plants in North America, but only four are unionized. Workers at Michelin’s plant in Kitchener, Ontario, went on strike June 1 to protest a company contract offer the USWA said sought too much on worker concessions.
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