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An arbitrator confirmed last week that a majority of workers at Goodyear-Utica Converters in Utica, NY have signed United Steelworkers (USW) authorization cards. This means all 158 production and maintenance workers at the facility will now be represented by the USW in collective bargaining.

Key issues for workers are health care, wages and retirement. The current health care plan costs employees $70 a week and has no dental or eye care. Wages around the plant vary greatly and are inconsistent and the only retirement plan is a 401 (k) that employees say three out of every four cannot afford to contribute to.

The vastly diverse workforce was able to overcome language barriers to unite and form a union. "We had probably 10 to 12 different groups of workers, including Bosnians, Russians, Polish and Vietnamese," said District 4 Organizer Frank Hotchkiss. "Every piece of literature needed to be translated into four languages."

USW members helped to translate back and forth between groups. "We brought in a USW member from Toronto who spoke Vietnamese and three Goodyear workers from Local 135L in Buffalo, one of whom spoke Polish," Hotchkiss said. "One of the two Steelworkers Summer interns was also able to speak fluent Russian."

"This has been the most unique campaign I have ever worked on," said Hotchkiss. "There were a lot of different challenges. The bottom line is the people there wanted a union."

Utica Converters is owned by Goodyear Dunlop and is a joint venture of Goodyear and Sumitomo. With a recently completed $4 million renovation, Utica Converters produces textile cord used in tire production and serves tire manufacturers around the country.

Utica becomes the fourth group of Goodyear workers to organize with the Steelworkers this year. Workers in Fayetteville, Statesville and Asheboro, North Carolina also joined the Union using the Neutrality Agreement negotiated between the USW and Goodyear in 2003. Over 19,000 USW members work at Goodyear facilities across the United States and Canada.