They had a strike against the company 3 years ago and their leaders bargained themselves into closing one facility. Earlier this year, “saving our ass” trumped over “union brotherhood” and they voted overwhelmingly for job cuts and pay concessions to save the local plant from closing. So, with Goodyear’s future in Danville not a sure thing at all and a new three-year contract currently being negotiated, what’s the next Smooth Move?
You guessed it. Voting to authorize a strike. The union says “it’s standard procedure to do that” and every other plant will probably do the same, but is it the right time to show an attitude like that? Goodyear won in 2006 in the strike, and this time a strike would put the Danville plant’s future in extreme jeopardy.
Goodyear needs the highly-skilled workers. The highly-skilled workers need Goodyear. The regional economy needs both Goodyear and the highly-skilled workers.
Can’t they just get along?
They’re fairly safe in Danville. They’re putting a lot of money in that plant. I doubt they’ll close it.
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