As negotiations proceed, the United Steelworkers (USW) and
Titan have extended the existing agreements in place at
three of the tire maker's plants until Dec. 17.
The parties have been making good progress, according to
Krista Gray, Titan’s investor relations manager.
“We face a difficult challenge in these negotiations,” notes
USW District 7 director Jim Robinson, who chairs the union’s
bargaining committee. “The company has proposed an
aggressive agenda to standardize our contracts and
restructure work in our plants.”
Robinson says that the standardization has the potential to
equalize working conditions at all three locations and
assist in preventing any potential pitting of one location
against another, creating more leverage for the union in
future negotiations.
If done properly, he adds, restructuring work in the tire
plants increases productivity – the foundation of
profitability – which in turn “supports the standard of
living” that the union’s membership expects.
“Major changes take time and attention to negotiate,”
Robinson says, “and we are determined to take that time and
give that attention.”
Both sides have made progress in the current negotiations,
but that they also “have much left to accomplish,” according
to Robinson.
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“We are optimistic that we can reach an agreement, and
intend to work hard to do so,” he says, “and between now and
Dec. 17 we expect to continue to produce the quality tires
for which the UT-3 union members are justifiably
known.”
The previously approved pacts remain in place at Titan’s
plants in Des Moines, Iowa; Freeport, Ill.; and Bryan,
Ohio.
For more information visit www.titan-intl.com and www.usw.org.
