Titan and union extend labor contracts; talks continue
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.
“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.
