From Tire Review Staff Reports
GREENVILLE, SC — The strike at Michelin North America’s (MNA) Kitchener, Ontario, plant that began on June 1 is effectively over, now that workers have voted to ratify a deal with the tiremaker.
On Aug. 23, members of the United Steelworkers of America (USWA), Local 677, voted 94 percent in favor of the deal. The proposal contains wage and benefit improvements and ensures the Ontario plant, as well as three U.S. plants — in Tuscaloosa and Opelika, Ala., and Woodburn, Ind. — will be protected from closure for the life of the agreement.
In addition, MNA, through its BFGoodrich division, has agreed to protect against contracting out unionized jobs and will spend $150 million to increase the flexibility of the four plants to produce higher-margin, larger branded tires. The agreement also guarantees production levels for each of the plants, according to union representatives.
Further details of the deal, including specifics concerning wage and benefit improvements, won’t be released until workers at the other three plants have voted, which is expected to occur later this week.
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