The United Steelworkers' ratification meetings for their tentative labor agreement with Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC are scheduled to wrap up on April 25. After that, votes will be tallied.
"Each local has been holding informational meetings prior to its ratification vote," says a union spokesman.
"Sometimes the vote lasts a few days to accommodate all the different shifts worked at a plant."
In early April, it was announced that BFNT and the United Steelworkers have reached a tentative agreement for the tiremaker's master contract with the union.
The agreement covers union workers at BFNT tire plants in Akron, Ohio; Des Moines, Iowa; and LaVergne, Tenn., as well as union workers at the Firestone tube plant in Russellville, Ark., and the Firestone air spring plant in Noblesville, Ind.
Tentative agreements also were reached for the maintenance group located in the LaVergne, Tenn., tire plant and for BFNT's tire factory in Bloomington, Ill.
"Regarding the Warren County, Tenn., tire plant and the separate agreement covering that facility, talks have resulted in a framework for a new agreement, which will be presented to the Warren County membership for ratification," BFNT officials added at the time of the announcement.
Agreements, if approved by union membership, will expire in July 2009.
