The United Steelworkers (USW) say it was "unconscionable" for Continental Tire North America Inc. (CTNA) to impose a proposal on April 30 that drastically cut wages and health care benefits -- only to claim now that high costs would force them to cease production in July.
In an official union statement, the USW said the following:
"All during recent negotiations, the company claimed that it needed the cost-cuts imposed to maintain production in Charlotte. Without them, the company claimed, CTNA would be forced to cease production in September 2006. Claiming an impasse in talks, the company arbitrarily made its changes."
USW Executive Vice President Ron Hoover claims Continental "flat-out lied to us. It's now apparent that Conti never intended to keep making tires in Charlotte."
The union represents more than 850,000 workers in the United States and Canada. Some 70,000 are employed in the tire and rubber industry.
