This Nelson is for you, Nelson:
Posted on 11/29/2011 4:23:21 AM PST by TSgt
Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. began a lockout of its 1,050 unionized workers Monday after they rejected a proposed new labor contract.
Cooper plans to keep making tires at the Findlay plant with temporary workers, the company said. It did not disclose how.
United Steelworkers Local 207L President Rod Nelson said the company has enlisted Strom Engineering and Strom Strategic Consulting of Minnetonka, Minn., a "labor contingency" firm, according to Strom's website. Cooper also is getting help from temporary employment agencies, Nelson said.
"They're paying these workers a lot more than they're paying their employees," Nelson said. "It's kind of sad."
Nelson feared Cooper might make the move when earlier Monday it kept workers out of the plant. He was skeptical when the company initially said the work stoppage was merely an extension of a Thanksgiving shutdown.
But when the company later called the stoppage a lockout, Nelson was still stunned.
"I'm in a state of shock," Nelson said minutes after getting official word late Monday afternoon. "I hope we can come to some kind of agreement. I am optimistic we would."
Union members on Sunday voted 606-305 against a proposed pact negotiated last week by Cooper management and union representatives. Details of the proposed agreement have not been released.
With or without a labor agreement, with or without its unionized workers, Cooper said it is determined to make tires in Findlay.
"While certain production adjustments may be necessary in the short term, Cooper will continue to supply its customers with the quality products they have come to expect," the company said. "Cooper is committed to making every effort to support its customers during this labor action."
Fear of losing customers as a result of a production decline is on management's minds. The labor contract at Cooper's Texarkana, Ark. plant expires in mid-January, and the company wants to avoid having simultaneous work stoppages at both plants.
At Findlay, "The company advanced several options to avoid the contract overlap that is looming, including a last, best and final proposal for a new long-term contract and an offer to extend the recently expired contract for an additional year with no change in terms," Cooper stated. "The United Steelworkers was unwilling to extend the contract more than 30 days, which would have placed the labor agreements at two of Cooper's major U.S. facilities even closer together."
Nelson said he assured Cooper that Findlay workers would not strike.
"That's not what we want. That's not what we're after. Our strategy is to request to get back to the table to reach a mutual agreement, a fair contract," Nelson said. "We'll offer a no-strike clause, if that's what's needed. I pledged to the company we won't strike. It's my personal pledge."
He said most Findlay production workers disliked the company's new contract offer and were not enamored of the last three-year contract, which expired Oct. 31. It included $30 million in pay and benefit concessions, made under the cloud of the company's announced plans in 2008 to close a U.S. plant. Ultimately, Cooper closed its Albany, Ga., plant.
"We've still got a lot of problems with the last contract," Nelson said.
Cooper said it has not given up on talking with the union.
Cooper is "committed to reaching an agreement with the (union) that recognizes the realities of the tire industry while providing a competitive wage and benefit package for its employees," the company said. "Dates for future negotiations are currently being finalized."
Ohio ping
We’ve got near 20% unemployment and these union thugs can’t agree to anything? Yea, that makes sense.
“Ohio ping”
Agree on the ping. Ohio folks have been screwing themselves royally lately. If I were CEO of Cooper I would relocate the facility to a right-to-work state and forget about Ohio.
My Masters degree was in Labor Economics and, after years of studying the labor movement, for the life of me I could never understand why someone with an ounce of self confidence would want to be in a union. By definition, a union restricts your income to that of the average worker. Kinda tough to get ahead when the entire pack moves with you.
Should have kept the Georgia plant. Steel Workers? What happened to the United Rubber Workers?
A lot of tires we buy these days are made in China and that is not reassuring to me.
I just bought some great Cooper tires, my last set lasted too long. Was on the car for 7 years. Duh.
I feel for the guy who has to be in the union to work there but just wants a paycheck. I wouldn’t piss on the average union guy if he was on fire who just wants something no one else in town has in benefits and wages - If you have a job. be blessed. Don’t gripe about it!
A right to work initiative in Ohio is coming!
Right-to-work amendment may be headed to Ohio ballot
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/11/right_to_work_amendment_may_be.html
It’s all about the mob’s cut of the union dues.....(all of it!).
They don’t give a damn about the workers, because they know that the lockout will last long enough to offset any wage increase.
It’s always been that way.
(former UAW & IAW member)
Just last year I tried to give one of my direct reports in Germany a large increase but couldn’t because his union negotiated 2% for everyone.
Above average workers are hurt by unions.
If he believes that they should decertify the union and take the replacment jobs. ;-)
The company went to the three union locals involved asking for concessions explaining that we were faced with having to close either one or two plants. The Gary and Clinton plants figured the company was bluffing and wouldn't agree to any concessions. My Detroit plant did which resulted in pay cuts for everyone in my plant plus the elimination of a couple paid holidays so we survived.
The Clinton and Gary plants were closed down.........
This Nelson is for you, Nelson:
Cooper closed the wrong plant..they had one in Georgia..
I used to live in the next town north of Findlay. Cooper was known as a good place to work that paid good wages. Findlay was also a Republican town then I think it still is.
Most of the factories in Findlay are union (that I know of). Findlay is probably one of the bright spots in Ohio. Lots of small industries.
Guess I won’t be buying Cooper tires in the near future.
If the company can bring in scab people and teach them to make quality tires so easily that they can get away with this, the jobs cannot be that tough to learn. Few special skills involved.
There are millions of unemployed people out there looking for work.
The union had better realise they are not in a good position to make demands.The public today is not in a good mood to back Union BS.
Good thread. Thanks for posting.
FU
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