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A Union with Balls

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coogebeachhotel

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 8, 2005
Posts
651
By THOMAS J. SHEERAN, Associated Press Writer 22 minutes ago


AKRON, Ohio - Workers at 16 Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. plants in 10 states and Canada went on strike Thursday after the world's third largest tire maker and the steelworkers union failed to agree on a new labor contract.
The union said the company's latest proposal would have included two plant closings.
"The company left us with no option," said Ron Hoover, executive vice president of the United Steelworkers of America, which represents the Goodyear workers. "We cannot allow additional plant closures after the sacrifices we made three years ago to help this company survive."
The old contract expired July 22 and both sides agreed to an indefinite day-to-day extension. The union issued a 72-hour notice on Monday and said they would terminate the contract at midday Thursday if an agreement wasn't reached.
The company said it was prepared to keep its plants open and take care of its customers but did not immediately say how it planned to do that.
Goodyear ranks No. 3 in the world in tire sales, based on revenues, behind top-ranked Bridgestone and No. 2 Michelin, according to the trade publication Tire Business.
Goodyear spokesman Ed Markey declined to comment on whether the company's offer involved plant closings.
"Our final offer to the union included a plan to secure retiree medical benefits and provide job security and investment guarantees for USW plants," Markey said. "The union rejected a comprehensive set of proposals that mirror the other industry agreements."
The union said it represents 15,000 employees at 12 Goodyear plants in the United States and four plants in Canada where its members have gone on strike. By the company's count, the U.S. plants have about 12,600 employees represented by the United Steelworkers.
In Akron, where the 108-year-old company is based, workers at Goodyear's research center streamed out of the building at 1 p.m. and joined union members holding signs on the picket line.
About 20 pickets showed up outside Goodyear's sprawling headquarters carrying placards that read "USW Local 2L on strike against Goodyear Tire & Rubber for unfair labor practices."
Within minutes, scores more arrived to join the picket line. Goodyear office workers coming out at lunch time walked past the pickets without stopping and motorists honked horns as they passed.
One union member led a chant, shouting, "What do you want?"
"Contract," the picketers chanted.
"When do you want it?" the man asked.
"Now."
In St. Mary's in western Ohio, where more than 400 workers make rubber for Goodyear, union members stopped working after getting a call from the bargaining unit in Cincinnati shortly after 1 p.m.

"We're on strike," said Rick Niekamp, vice president of the USWA Local 200. "We had no choice. We didn't want to do it."
The union also represents Goodyear employees at plants in Marysville, Ohio; Lincoln, Neb.; Topeka, Kan.; Buffalo, N.Y.; Union City, Tenn.; Danville, Va.; Sun Prairie, Wis.; and Fayetteville, N.C.
Workers also went on strike at Goodyear's four plants in Ontario, Canada, the union said. Goodyear shares fell 19 cents, or 1.3 percent, to $14.10 in trading Thursday afternoon on the New York Stock Exchange. The 52-week range has been between
 
I'm going to take a stab that Goodyear can hold out longer than the workers. It's gonna get pretty chilly soon...and the holidays are coming. I would think they'll want to be able to keep the heat on and get toys for the kiddies.

But, maybe not.
 
In Akron, where the 108-year-old company is based, workers at Goodyear's research center streamed out of the building at 1 p.m. and joined union members holding signs on the picket line.

About 20 pickets showed up outside Goodyear's sprawling headquarters carrying placards that read "USW Local 2L on strike against Goodyear Tire & Rubber for unfair labor practices."

Within minutes, scores more arrived to join the picket line.

OK....but does anybody see the difference? This thread is called, "A union with balls". But you notice if the plants are completely shut down? If they are, then that means they have a pretty solid majority....unlike pilots.

As a Pilot, if you think your union doesn't have balls...the first place you need to start is by taking a look in the mirror. When Pilots vote in overwhelming majorities to take concessions, then all you can do is accept the democratic process...but it also sends a message to management.

You can blame Duane, ALPA, or whoever you want but if it ain't going your way....then you need to get more involved...present resolutions at your LEC meetings...make change happen.

A resolution is the best way to see if your are on the right track or if you are out in left field....the votes will tell you the truth.

Betcha you wont see a Goodyear worker with his kid in a stroller, picketing against his union with the sign on the stroller that reads, "Please let my daddy vote." You know we've already seen that happen with an ALPA member.

Tejas
 
Betcha you wont see a Goodyear worker with his kid in a stroller, picketing against his union with the sign on the stroller that reads, "Please let my daddy vote." You know we've already seen that happen with an ALPA member.

Tejas

You got to be kidding me?! An ALPA member in good-standing and eligible to vote actually did that???

You got a picture?

If true, that's incredible. A real poster-child for his union!
 
You got to be kidding me?! An ALPA member in good-standing and eligible to vote actually did that???

You got a picture?

If true, that's incredible. A real poster-child for his union!

Not kidding....he was an ALPA member in good standing, eligible to vote, picketing against his own MEC. Maybe there was a picture in the local paper. Happened in Charlotte N.C. about 2 years ago.

Tejas
 

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