The United Steelworkers (USW) Local 752L overwhelmingly ratified a new four-year labor agreement with Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. The local union represents the company's Texarkana, Ark., tire plant.
The agreement, which affects approximately 1,500 union members, received a 1006-to-141 endorsement. Negotiators for both sides had hammered out a tentative agreement last week (see "Cooper and USW agree -- in Texarkana").
In addition to wage and benefit changes which will be implemented over the course of the four-year accord, the company plans additional investment in the plant.
Representatives from both Cooper and the USW are optimistic for the future of the Texarkana facility, "and the ability of the plant employees to be even more productive under the terms of the new contract."
According to the 2012 Modern Tire Dealer Facts Issue, the Texarkana facility has the capacity to produce 24,000 passenger tires and 8,000 light truck tires per day.
