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“Export Tires, Not Jobs” Bridgestone/Firestone National Day of Action

On February 16, 2005, traditional and associate steelworkers across the country held over 200 rallies at Nissan dealerships to protest the lack of progress in master contract negotiations that cover 6,000 USW members employed at eight Bridgestone/Firestone (BFS) plants. In an apparent attempt to try and offshore good paying American jobs, BFS has been unwilling to sign  a union contract that contains the same industry standards as other major tire makers such as Goodyear and Michelin's BFGoodrich.

In Washington, associate members participated in actions at Nissan dealerships at three locations across the state. "Having associate members willing to stand up for workers' rights in metropolitan areas such as Seattle and Tacoma, where we don't have many traditional Steelworker locals, is vital to successfully exerting pressure on nationwide corporations like Bridgestone/Firestone," said Associate Member Coordinator Joel Hanson. Nissan is a major customer for Bridgestone/Firestone tires. As part of the USW contract campaign, members staged informational rallies outside of dealerships to inform the public of BFS' resistance to invest in American production and jobs. The USW wants the company to "Export Tires -- Not Jobs."

 

By holding 200 rallies nationwide on the same day, USW members sent the company a strong message of solidarity and resolve.

”Our biggest concerns remain job security for our members and keeping the production in our communities," said USW Executive Vice President John Sellers.