Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Virginia LLC, a Yokohama Tire Corp. subsdiary, has signed a new four-year contract with United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1023, according to Tetsuro “Tex” Murakami, the subsidiary's president.
The deal covers workers at Yokohama's Salem, Va., consumer tire plant. According to the 2014 Modern Tire Dealer Facts Issue, the facility has the capacity to produce nearly 27,000 passenger and light truck tires per day.
“Both parties worked diligently to achieve a contract that is fair and equitable for all involved,” Murakami said, “and it highlights the positive working relationship between the two sides.”
Local 1023 represents approximately 750 employees at the Salem plant. The last contract was signed in 2010 and was also a four-year deal.
Contract highlights include:
* a non-closure agreement of the plant during the life of the agreement.
* the continuation and improvement of the union’s current pension plan.
* numerous safety and health measures.
“This is another significant contract which is expected to prove beneficial to all parties,” Murakami said. “Negotiations went smoothly, both sides were professional and cordial throughout the negotiations and we feel good about the result.”
Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Virginia is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Yokohama Tire Corp., the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. For more information on Yokohama’s broad product line, visit www.yokohamatire.com.
