Cooper and USW agree -- in Texarkana

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. and United Steelworkers Local 752L reached a tentative agreement on a new four-year labor contract shortly before the current contract was scheduled to expire.

Details of the agreement are being held pending presentation to the union's membership. The proposal will be presented to union members for ratification next week.

In a joint statement, Cooper and the union expressed their appreciation for the professionalism, hard work, and support of those participating in the negotiations.

"Both sides worked hard to reach a four-year agreement that both the plant and the community can be proud of," says David Boone, president of USW Local 752L. "Of all the negotiations I have been involved with, this one was conducted in the most professional manner.

"The local community should be proud of the negotiation teams that worked to keep good jobs in Texarkana. This plant is an integral part of the community, and it was important for all of us to work together to get this done."

Texarkana Plant Manager Scott Cole adds that the "thoughtful and constructive analysis that went into reaching this agreement will serve us well as we continue to work together to make Texarkana even better than it is today."

Related Topics: David Boone, Plants, Scott Cole, USW

comments

1. Dennis | January 23, 2012 at 09:48AM
   I'm confused as to what the union would like me to do now.....The USW was picketing my tire dealership last week and telling customers not to buy tires from Cooper and that we and Cooper support scabs. Now they come to an agreement, how do they expect Cooper to pay their wages when they went around the country telling everyone not to buy their product. What a joke, and the USW wonders why people are fed up with unions. Made alot of sense to picket dealers and affect their business and employees who have nothing to do with their negotiations.

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