Cooper and employees end labour dispute

ERJ staff report (DS)

Findlay, Ohio - Cooper Tire & Rubber said United Steelworkers (USW) Local 207L has ratified a new five-year labour agreement. This agreement, which affects approximately 1,050 union members, ends a 3-month lockout that began November 28, 2011, at the Company's Findlay, Ohio, plant. Union members voted 627 to 321 in favor of the agreement as reported after voting concluded yesterday at 5 p.m. EST.

In a statement, Cooper said, “Both the Company and the Union are pleased to have reached an agreement and are looking forward to the Findlay plant employees returning to work. While enormous time and effort was involved in reaching this labour agreement, leaders from the Company and the Union share a belief that the new contract will enhance the competitiveness of Cooper's Findlay tyre plant through improvements in productivity. An orderly return-to-work plan will be communicated before the end of the week.”

"Our brothers and sisters have once again made their voices heard," said USW Local 207L President Rodney Nelson. "As a committee, we are proud to have remained united and delivered a fair contract, despite Cooper's best attempts to divide us."

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Press release from Cooper

Press release from United Steelworkers