The lockout is over. The United Steelworkers (USW) Local 207L ratified a new five-year labor agreement with Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.
Union members voted 627 to 321 in favor of the agreement, as reported after voting concluded Monday, Feb. 27, at 5 p.m. EST. The agreement affects approximately 1,050 union members in Findlay, Ohio.
In a joint statement, the company and the union said they are pleased to have reached an agreement and are looking forward to the Findlay consumer tire manufacturing plant employees returning to work.
"While enormous time and effort was involved in reaching this labor agreement, leaders from the company and the union share a belief that the new contract will enhance the competitiveness of Cooper’s Findlay tire plant through improvements in productivity."
They added that an orderly return-to-work plan will be communicated before the end of the week.
The agreement ends a three-month lockout that began at the Findlay plant on Nov. 28, 2011. For more information, visit "Cooper and USW reach tentative agreement."
