When contract talks are on and negotiations are tense, things are said and rumors start flying. The latest rumor that Goodyear employees have been notified they will strike is just that, for right now.
Local 878L spokesman Willis Hicks informed The Messenger Friday morning no such notice has been issued. "It doesn't mean it won't be issued in 10 minutes, though," he said, adding, "It's looking more and more like it."
But first, before anyone steps foot on the pavement, the United Steelworkers will have to give Goodyear a 72-hour notice. And even if that happens, it doesn't mean that union workers will actually carry their picket signs.
Hicks said should the notice be given, the community needs to know that Goodyear will have 72 hours to start moving toward union terms. In that situation, should the two entities make progress, the union could decide to continue negotiations and not strike.
The latest solidarity alert, which was distributed to some union members at the local plant Friday morning, and is available online, says the union's bargaining team and the company "remain far apart in forging a new contract."
The union states Goodyear says it wants to have plant protection for 10 plants, with no layoffs below a fixed number. But what it really means, according to the union, is that it leaves several plants open for full closure and drastically reduces the manning at all plants.
In the alert, the union questions Goodyear's offer to pay increases to 31 percent of the workforce starting in 2009 and wonders what will happen to the other 69 percent of employees who still would be facing wage cuts.
* Goodyear says it wants to continue COLA distributed as a percentage of grade wage rate, but the union says that means 60 percent of the employees would receive far less than the present COLA formula, with some as low as 47 percent of the actual COLA, according to the alert.
* Goodyear says it wants to establish a support unit. The union says that means Goodyear wants to hire employees at $11 per hour with no benefits, working the same jobs as others. Graduation to regular jobs would be made only when available and only with company approval. "This is a contingent work force," it states.
* Goodyear says it wants an exit incentive for up to 10 percent of the active employees. The union says Goodyear would replace exiting employees with lower paying jobs and fewer benefits. "Goodyear decides who and when you can go," the alert says.
* Goodyear says it wants to have pension increases with length of service. The union says this means pensions increases for future seniority only.
* Goodyear says it wants to have life insurance improvements for actives, while the union says the plan increases from $40,000 to $45,000, "if you die."
* Goodyear says it wants to have plant investment guarantees. The union says it's a blanket statement of promised investments without any dollar amount or plant designations.
* Goodyear says it wants to plan to protect competitive retiree medical into the future, but the union says Goodyear wants to eliminate their responsibility for retiree health care.
* Goodyear says it wants to reduce vacations for new hires. The union says it's exactly as the company states, "new hires' vacations would be less than current."
* Goodyear says it wants to have active health care changes. The union says that means Increased premiums, increased co-pays, adding more tiers on prescription drugs and more out-of-pocket expense for employees.
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