Cooper Tire union votes on tentative pact today

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Cooper Tire union votes on tentative pact today
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Monday, February 27, 2012
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# N5 m6 D5 p5 |& i; a% G' vFindlay, OH - Cooper Tire & Rubber and United Steelworkers Local 207L reached a tentative agreement on a new five-year labor contract almost four months after the previous contract had expired. Details of the agreement are being held pending presentation to the union’s membership. The proposal was presented to union members for ratification on Saturday, February 25, with a vote scheduled for today, February 27. Cooper’s USW-represented employees in Findlay were locked out on November 28, 2011, after the first tentative agreement was rejected. However, both Cooper and the union leadership feel the new tentative agreement reached today addresses many of the concerns expressed by the membership and allows Cooper to attain the productivity it requires to remain competitive in North America. “The Findlay plant and its members have been a critical component of Cooper’s success throughout the years as well as a key contributor to the Findlay community,” said Jack Hamilton, Findlay plant manager. “Our main objective during this negotiation was to attain a long-term agreement that better positioned the Findlay plant to succeed in a global competitive environment. We are happy to have reached an agreement that will bring our co-workers back to work with a competitive compensation and benefits package while also solidifying Cooper’s ability to profitably grow our business in the North American market.” Rod Nelson, president of USW Local 207L, added, “Our members wanted a fair contract, and we want this plant to be the best in the company. Through some difficult negotiations, we were able to tackle several key issues our people had with the previous tentative agreement and help the company reach its productivity goals.” Details of when the Findlay plant employees will return to work will be released upon ratification of the tentative agreement.