Goodyear sets date for Tyler plant closure

Akron, Ohio - Goodyear will officially shut down tyre production at its Tyler, Texas, plant in early January.

The unionised plant was targeted for closure under the contract Goodyear inked with the United Steelworkers last December following an 86-day strike. The contract offered protection for all other unionised tyre and rubber plants in the US over the span of the three-year agreement.

Goodyear had agreed to keep the Tyler plant open through the end of 2007 but previously said it would close the facility in the first quarter of 2008.

The Tyler plant, with a daily capacity of 25 000 passenger and light truck tyres, was affected by Goodyear's decision in 2006 to exit certain segments of the private label business. The production shutdown will eliminate about 1100 jobs and save the company about $50 million a year after taxes, according to Goodyear.

From Tire Business (A Crain publication)