Bargaining Digest Weekly by Gordon Pavy, Jan 6, 2007

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2007/01/06/bargaining-digest-weekly-40/

Bargaining Digest Weekly

by Gordon Pavy, Jan 6, 2007

The AFL-CIO Collective Bargaining Department delivers daily, bargaining-related news and research resources to more than 800 subscribers. Union leaders can register for this service through our website, Bargaining@Work.

More than 15,000 Goodyear workers, members of the United Steelworkers (USW) union, returned to work Tuesday to 12 U.S. and three Canadian plants after ratifying their new pact last week. Included in the Goodyear settlement is an agreement to offer buyouts to 400 workers at four U.S. plants who make rubber products other than tires. The four plants are in Lincoln, Neb.; Marysville and St. Mary’s, Ohio; and Sun Prairie, Wis.

Despite backing Goodyear to the tune of more than $1 billion during the strike, Wall Street appears pleased with the settlement as shares hit new 52-week high. Although workers have returned to their jobs, Goodyear says full production is weeks away. Up next: USW-Bridgestone Firestone negotiations.

In the most recent Goodyear news, the tire maker plans to cut tire production at its Canada plant in Valleyfield, Quebec, reducing employment levels from 1,000 to just 200 workers by June 30. The company has announced closures of tire plants in Britain, New Zealand and Texas.

Manufacturing: In Cleveland, 830 UAW members at Alcoa also returned to work, ending a four-week strike following their contract ratification last Wednesday.

Mining: The Steelworkers and Asarco Copper extended their agreement to Feb. 2 as they work out details for a new contract covering 1,500 workers. Asarco has been in Chapter 11 bankruptcy since August 2005.

FULL story at link.