The United Steelworkers say their members at four of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.'s Engineered Products plants have "have given their approval to a tentative agreement" with The Carlyle Group, which wants to buy the unit.
However, the union says "outstanding issues" still need to be resolved before the Carlyle Group can proceed with its purchase of the unit.
"The agreement was approved by members at USW Local 200 in St. Marys, Ohio; USW Local 286 in Lincoln, Neb.; USW Local 904 in Sun Prairie, Wis/; and USW Local 843 in Marysville, Ohio."
More than 1,600 workers are represented by the union at the four facilities, "where the contract is a tri-party agreement between the company, the union locals and the USW International."
Union officials say Carylyle "needs to first reach a new labor agreement... because of a 'successorship' clause in the current contract.
"This language requires any potential buyer to recognize the workers’ collective bargaining representative and to negotiate a new contract prior to finalizing any sale.
"If the sale is finalized, Carlyle will continue to produce Goodyear brands of hoses, belts and other products under the name of EPD Inc."
