Cooper reaches tentative agreement with Texarkana union members

ERJ staff report (TB)

Texarkana, Arkansas -- Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. has reached a tentative agreement with United Steelworkers (USW) Local 752L on a new four-year labour pact at the tyre maker's Texarkana tyre plant which, if approved, will replace the contract expiring Jan. 20.

Details of the agreement are being held pending next week's presentation of the proposed agreement to union members for ratification. In a joint statement from both parties, Cooper and the USW expressed their “appreciation for the professionalism, hard work and support of those participating in negotiations.”

“Both sides worked hard to reach a four-year agreement that both the plant and the community can be proud of,” said David Boone, president of USW Local 752L. “Of all the negotiations I have been involved with, this one was conducted in the most professional manner.”

Cooper had cited the potential for dual stoppages at its Texarkana and Findlay, Ohio, plants as its primary reason for locking out its unionised Findlay workforce Nov. 28 and hiring temporary workers to continue making tyres at the facility. The two parties have yet to reach an agreement on a new labor contract for the Findlay factory.

Separately, the American Rights at Work (ARW) group is supporting the locked-out members of USW Local 207L by asking supporters to email Cooper Tire CEO Roy Armes and demand an end to the lockout.

The organisation has set up a website with a message addressed to Armes which supporters can send to him.

From Tire Business   (A Crain publication)

Website  of  americanrightsatwork.org