
Issue No 69		01 September 2000

LaborNET	Ask Neale	Tool of the Week

International

History Repeats At Firestone

By Chris Owen

More than 8,000 workers, members of the United Steelworkers of America (USWA), are set to strike at nine Bridgestone/Firestone plants in the United States at midnight tonight.

USWA members have been covered by contracts negotiated after industrial action against Bridgestone/Firestone in 1994. Since those contracts expired early this year employees have been working under tentative contract extensions which have raised benefit renewal and job security concerns. The USWA is seeking to improve the situation with a comprehensive agreement that improves working conditions, wages and pensions for its members working at Bridgestone/Firestone facilities.

Talks between the USWA and Bridgestone/Firestone management have been ongoing since March this year. After much delay, the company finally presented a limited proposal on Tuesday 29th August which fell far short of meeting the critical issues identified by the union.

The two sides are at odds over both pensions and working hours. Union members want a bigger pension increase than Firestone is willing to give yet the company still pushes for the union to agree to forced overtime and changes to holiday and vacation time.

The USWA has threatened strikes against Bridgestone/Firestone to encourage serious agreements for workers.

"It's time to bring these negotiations to a conclusion" said John Sellers, chairman of the USWA Bargaining Council. "We expect intensive bargaining to continue. If an agreement is not reached during this time, a strike at every location is most probable."

The USWA represents more than 75,000 workers in the North America rubber and tyre industry. The union grew in 1994 with a merger with the Rubber Workers Union and smaller tyre workers unions and combined forces to successfully tackle Bridgestone/Firestone over contract issues.

That dispute began in 1994 when the Japanese-owned company refused to go along with a new model contract with a former tyre workers union. On 4th January 1995, twelve thousand tyre workers struck Bridgestone-Firestone who responded by hiring as many as 2000 replacement workers.

The agreements struck by the USWA-led union front allowed most of the workers to return to their jobs under better contracts in May of that year.

View entire issue - print all of the articles!

Issue 69 contents

Interview: Global Warrior
International unions have won a game of political football with soccer`s hierarchy - and Aussie Tim Noonan is behind the victory.

History: King of Broken Hill
John Shields recounts the colourful life of William Sydney 'Shorty' O'Neil (1903-2000) and his place in the rich history of a remarkable town.

International: History Repeats At Firestone
More than 8,000 workers, members of the United Steelworkers of America (USWA), are set to strike at nine Bridgestone/Firestone plants in the United States at midnight tonight.

Politics: The Past We Need To Understand
In his Vincent Lingiari Memorial Lecture Malcolm Fraser retraces the path of Australian race relations and laments the terrible impasse we've reached.

Unions: Economic Democracy
Sharan Burrow on making Working Australia's money talk and reforming corporate culture for the 21st Century.

Satire: Another windscreen washer joins millionaire list
SYDNEY, Monday: After just a year in his new job, John Samuels has added his name to the burgeoning list of enterprising Australians who have made their fortunes by offering partial car-washing facilities in convenient inner city road-side locations.

Review: No Long Term
Much political commentary is about the global marketplace and the use of new technologies as hallmarks of the new capitalism. Richard Sennett investigates another dimension of change: new ways of organising time, particularly working time.

» New Benchmark In Bank Greed

» Olympics Deal Sparks Soccer Ball Victory

» Two Day Strike Hits BHP Mines

» Leightons, SOCOG Tremble Before Haka

» Hilton Hotels Limp As Strike Bites

» Wran Lends Boffins A Hand

» ACTU Meets Joy

» Barracks Workers Put The Pinch On Local MP

» Olympic Win For Taxi Drivers

» Australian Unions Keep Spotlight on Fiji

» Staff Eye Telstra Prize

» Dice Loaded Against American Workers

» NZ Union Federations Heal Split

» Pressure Mounts On Nike To Live Olympic Ideal