Originally published Tuesday, January 2, 2007 at 12:00 AM
Goodyear workers back on jobs today
. AKRON, Ohio — The contract has been approved, the picket lines and fire barrels taken down, but some hard feelings remain among...
The Associated Press
AKRON, Ohio — The contract has been approved, the picket lines and fire barrels taken down, but some hard feelings remain among Goodyear Tire & Rubber workers who will return to work today after a three-month strike that at times got ugly.
"Personally, I feel there's going to be a hard line drawn between management and associates," said Dan Levin, 43, who has worked at the Sun Prairie, Wis., plant for 12 years. "Talk to me about my line. Talk to me about my work. Small talk? Forget about it. There's going to be a division, like the China wall."
Workers at 12 plants in 10 states ended their strike Friday by approving a three-year agreement covering 14,000 employees. The contract, which includes plans to close a Texas tire factory and creates a $1 billion health-care fund for retirees, was approved by the overall membership by a 2-1 ratio.
Before the strike, relations between workers and management at the plant were good, Levin said, adding it will take a while to mend the wounds.
The company said the pact will help reduce its costs by $610 million over three years and $300 million a year thereafter.
"What we expect is that both Goodyear and its workers now get back to being one team," Goodyear spokesman Ed Markey said. "The focus is on serving the customer and beating the competition."
Some members of the United Steelworkers were optimistic about rebuilding their relationship with company management.
"Overall when we get back in there, they're going to be happy for us to get in there," said John Rutherford, president of USW Local 843L in Marysville, Ohio. "I don't think they're going to be overbearing and slapping us back into shape. We're looking forward to getting back into the routine."
Goodyear agreed to put $1 billion into a health-care fund for retired union workers' medical benefits, higher than the company's previous $660 million offer but less than the union's call for roughly double that amount.
Dave Prentice, a worker on temporary assignment with USW Local 2L in Akron, anticipated a long healing process.
"There were a lot of wounds inflicted and people are going to have to heal and get back into the business of producing a quality product," he said.
Associated Press writers Scott Bauer in Madison, Wis., and Carolyn Thompson in Buffalo, N.Y., contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
UPDATE - 08:37 PM
Rainier Pacific Financial calls rescue 'unlikely'
Brier Dudley: New handbook for Google, Droid users
Google snaps up mobile ad startup for $750 million
Plans call for Triangle to become West Seattle gateway
Abortion could roil Senate health care debate

Medal of Honor
Bruce Crandall and John "Bud" Hawk of Kitsap County say no one "wins" the Medal of Honor. The two recipients of the medal explain they weren't trying to be heroes - just do their duty.
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- 'Missing' SeaTac man found with new name, in new state
- Bombs, guns found at home of suspect in Officer Brenton's slaying
- Police: DNA from officer's slaying matches suspect
- How an underdog named Mike McGinn took City Hall
- 3 Cascade Mountain passes close due to snow; more rain, wind expected Sunday
- Prosecutors consider charges against suspect in police shooting
- Three more fires ignite in Greenwood
- Steve Kelley | Hasselbeck gives Seahawks' sagging season a stay of execution
- The birth of 'Grunge,' in photos by Michael Lavine
- Teenage serial burglar suspected in more Camano Island burglaries
- House health bill unacceptable to many in Senate
246 - Prosecutors prepare charges against suspect in police shooting
239 - Pelosi tours Seattle's Swedish after health-care vote
163 - Prosecutors prepare charges against suspect in police shooting
138 - Alleged shooter tied to mosque of 9/11 hijackers
135 - Obama puts heat on Senate to speed health bill
123 - Resolute Fort Hood soldiers ready for return
114 - McGinn more than doubles his lead over Mallahan
95 - Ayn Rand: goddess of the market, gateway to the American right
79 - Cutaia says replay handled properly on Austin TD
68
- For 80-year-old Maple Valley man, hoops aren't just a dream
- Plans call for Triangle to become West Seattle gateway
- Three more fires ignite in Greenwood
- 10 ways to take control of your health
- The birth of 'Grunge,' in photos by Michael Lavine
- 'Missing' SeaTac man found with new name, in new state
- Bombs, guns found at home of suspect in Officer Brenton's slaying
- Taste | Ruth Reichl still reigns as queen of America's culinary scene
- Silver Lake restaurant destroyed by fire
- Pakistani-American cafe, bar owner on verge of being Granite Falls mayor








