PITTSBURGH, Feb. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The
United Steelworkers (USW) today said that members of Local 207L
have ratified a five-year contract with Cooper Tire and Rubber
Company (NYSE:CTB), ending a three-month lockout at the company's
Findlay, Ohio tire plant.
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The new contract was ratified with approximately 66% of the 948
ballots cast.
"Our brothers and sisters have once again made their voices
heard," said USW Local 207L President Rodney Nelson. "As a committee, we are proud to
have remained united and delivered a fair contract, despite
Cooper's best attempts to divide us."
USW District 1 Director Dave
McCall praised the members of Local 207L for their
solidarity and determination after being illegally locked out by
Cooper on Nov. 28, 2011, despite the
union's good faith offer to continue working under the terms of the
previous agreement while negotiations toward a new one
proceeded.
"Cooper needs to acknowledge that its loyal, productive and
efficient USW workforce is the company's most valuable asset in
Findlay and treat them with the
respect and dignity they have earned," McCall said. "For many
years, Cooper was a good example of how workers and management
could work together toward common goals and the greater good of the
community."
McCall said that the company's standing has undeniably changed
and that the union's battle for justice in Findlay has not ended.
"Breaking federal labor laws, importing a temporary replacement
workforce and demanding unfair and unreasonable wage and benefit
cuts instead of negotiating in good faith are not the actions of a
responsible corporate citizen," McCall said.
The USW filed unfair labor practice charges against Cooper with
Region 8 of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) shortly after
the lockout began that if upheld may trigger a back pay liability
for the time the NLRB determines the lockout illegal.
"We look forward to an answer from the NLRB on those charges,"
McCall said. "Cooper will not escape accountability for its
actions."
The USW represents about 850,000 working men and women in
the United States and Canada in a wide variety of industries,
ranging from glass making to mining, paper, steel, tire and rubber
and other manufacturing environments to the public sector, service
and health care industries.
More information, contact: Tony
Montana, USW – 412-562-2592
SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)