BFNAT Workers May Strike

(Akron/Tire Review) Union workers at Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire’s (BFNAT) truck tyre plant in Warren County, Tennessee, say they plan to go out on strike 22 July unless they receive a better master contract offer from the Nashville, Tennessee-based manufacturer.

United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1155 officials told local newspaper The Nashville Tenessean that the union is prepared to walk off the job at midnight on 22 July. Local 1155 officials said they have asked to meet with BFNAT to discuss the contract.

USW locals at five other BFNAT plants all approved the new master contract last week. Only workers at the Warren County plant and the BFNAT plant in nearby LaVergne, Tennessee, rejected the contract. The 62 per cent against vote by LaVergne workers was nullified, however, because the positive votes at other BFNAT plants overrode them. BFNAT spokesman Dan MacDonald told the Tennessean that the tyre manufacturer was glad the master agreement was approved by the other plants, and that it has no plans for further negotiations with Warren County workers, though it will meet with the union if asked.