The United Steelworkers (USW) Local 850 criticized Continental Tire North America Inc. (CTNA) management today for failing to "adequately respond to repeated proposals by the union to provide critical information the union needs to develop a plan to salvage manufacturing at the Charlotte plant."
According to the union, when the two sides met November 17, Continental expressed a sense of urgency while requesting "takeaways in all areas of the contract mounting to about $32 million."
The USW says in return, it has made a number of requests for information vital to crafting a response.
"Experience has shown us that traditional bargaining is not an adequate solution in these types of situations," says Ron Hoover, USW executive vice president. "Innovative approaches are required, but that requires the full disclosure of information and sincere dialogue."
The United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union, which includes the USW, represents 850,000 hourly workers in the U.S. and Canada. Some 70,000 are employed in the tire, rubber and plastics industry -- including 1,100 at CTNA's Charlotte plant.
(For more information on the situation, check out "CTNA addresses questions about Charlotte plant" in the News Archives, Dec. 8, 2005.)
