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"Industrial contests take on all the attitudes and psychology of war, and both parties do many things that they should never dream of doing in times of peace. Whatever may be said, the fact is that all strikes and all resistance to strikes take on the psychology of warfare, and all parties in interest must be judged from that standpoint."
Clarence Darrow
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Something To Think About
USW Lawsuit Results in Continental Tire Agreeing to Provide Retiree Health
Care
Union Thwarts Attempt to Short-Change Workers
For Immediate
Release
April 15, 2008
(Pittsburgh) – The United Steelworkers said today that Continental Tire
North America, (CTNA) has agreed to make $158 million in payments to a
retiree health insurance fund. The settlement is in response to a lawsuit
filed by the USW and a class of retirees when CTNA implemented a $3,000 cap
on its payments for retiree health coverage, a change which forced many
retirees to pay $1000 or more monthly for coverage.
- Read More -
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USW Applauds Preliminary Antidumping Duties Placed On Off-The-Road Tire Imports From China
For Immediate Release February 6, 2008
Washington, D.C. -- The United Steelworkers (USW) welcomed today’s preliminary decision to impose antidumping duties on new pneumatic off-the-road (OTR) tire imports from China announced by the U.S. Commerce Department.
“Today’s decision will help level the playing field for U.S. workers by requiring Chinese tire imports to be priced fairly,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard. “This case shows the importance of vigorous enforcement of our trade laws as a first line of defense against unfair trade practices that harm American industries and jobs.”
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January 21, 2008
USW Reacts to Taylor Freeport Threat
Reacting to last week’s news that Titan International Chairman Morry Taylor threatened to reduce the workforce at its Freeport, Ill., plant, USW Executive Vice President Ron Hoover issued this statement:
“The USW international, including myself, supported Titan’s purchase of the Freeport facility (from Goodyear), and I participated in the bargaining to accomplish the transaction. These negotiations were no different than most. Both parties had specific issues to address at the bargaining table.
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January 15, 2008
Titan CEO Says He May Cut Investment in Freeport
FREEPORT - Maurice Taylor, the CEO of one of Freeport's largest employers, Titan Tire International, says he may move the tire business out of Freeport if local union officials there don't go along with his plans to cut staff and improve productivity.
"That's the way it is," Taylor said in an interview last week. "We're going to run a profitable plant or we're going to shave it down until it does make money. I told everyone that when [Titan] first came here."
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December 18, 2007
News Release from Titan International, Inc.
A Look at 2007 and Forward
By Titan Chairman and CEO Maurice M. Taylor, Jr. QUINCY, Ill.—Titan International Inc. has had a successful and eventful year and 2008 should prove equally exciting. Before we focus on next year, let’s look at what has happened this past year.
When the year began, Titan expected 2007 to be a flat year in the agricultural sector, but a robust year in the mining (OTR) market. Deere and Company advised the Street they expected a flat to very small increase.
Titan produces wheels and tires for the agriculture and earthmoving/mining off-the-road (OTR) businesses, so let me mention wheels first.
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December 14, 2007
Titan Lauds Commerce Department Ruling
Titan International Inc. offered its comments in the aftermath of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s decision earlier this week to impose preliminary countervailing duties on new OTR tires imported into the U.S. The Commerce Department found Chinese tiremakers exporting to the U.S. were benefiting from government-sponsored subsidies, which out U.S. tiremakers at a market disadvantage. The subsidy margins ranged from 2.38% to 6.59%, said the Commerce Department.
“Today’s determination sends a signal to producers in China that they have to start playing by the rules of game just like everyone else,” said Titan Chairman and CEO Morry Taylor. “Tire producers in China benefit from government subsidies that give them an illegitimate advantage in our market, and it is the U.S. industry and American workers who have suffered as a result. Hopefully today’s decision will start to counteract the damage being done by China’s unfair subsidies.”
The subsidies afforded China-based tiremakers included loans from government-owned banks, tax breaks, government grants, and access to low-cost rubber and land, according to the Commerce Department report.
“While Titan believes that these preliminary margins are lower than the full amount of subsidization benefiting OTR producers in China, we are hopeful that more accurate information on the full scope of subsidies will be collected as the investigation proceeds,” said Taylor. “We will be participating actively to see that the department demands cooperative responses from the government of China and Chinese tire producers regarding subsidies to the industry, and we will advocate for the fair and effective administration of the law. Only by vigorously enforcing U.S. trade laws against unfair imports can we start to level the playing field for the U.S. tire industry.”
Titan noted that the Commerce Department report this week is separate from an ongoing antidumping investigation on OTR tires from China. The Department will make a preliminary antidumping determination regarding OTR tires from China in February of next year.
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A Letter From the President
December 1, 2007
Dear Union Member and Family,
With the holiday season quickly approaching, we are all very busy. Before we stop to spend time with our families we have one more task to take care of to protect our families’ future.
On Tuesday, December 11th we need to go to the polls to put a working family candidate in Congress in District 5.
Robin Weirauch will create good jobs here in Ohio and fight against the outsourcing of the jobs we’ve got. Gov. Strickland said, "Robin will fight for the change we need." Her number one priority is to end the bad trade deals that have devastated our communities by shipping our jobs overseas and hurting our wages.
A former IBEW member married to a retired police officer, Robin knows how important unions are to helping us protect our wages and benefits. She has pledged to support the Employee Free Choice Act so that all workers have the freedom to form a union without employer intimidation.
As Robin has said, it’s time to "move away from the politics of the past" that brought us bad trade deals and scandal. She will defend our retirement security, work for universal health care, fight for our jobs and help bring our children home from war.
Robin Weirauch will fight for change so that our families have a more stable future.
How you vote is a personal decision, please think about who will best represent the interests of working families. Your union supports Robin Weirauch for U.S. House in Disctrict 5.
Please remember to vote Tuesday, December 11th.
See and listen to Robin by clicking here.
In Solidarity,
Kent R. Hardy, President
USW Local #890L
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October 12, 2007
Union/Management Meet at Titan Tire Interim Meeting
This last week, Local Union representatives from Des Moines, Iowa, Freeport, Illinois and Bryan met with Company representatives for the 2007 Interim Meeting as provided for by the CBA.
On Monday, Union reps met at the Local #890 Union Hall. The group prepared for their meeting with management during the rest of the week.
On Tuesday, the meeting began with a presentation by Morry Taylor on the status of each plant. During the presentation, he commented on recent visits to each plant stating that the new expansion is progressing on time and that he intended to keep it that way. He also commented that we need to be producing more tires. We also met with representatives from JP Morgan discussing issues related to the employee savings plans at each location. In addition, we reviewed the employee participation and performance of contributions to the 401k plan for the Bryan plant. Educational sessions are being planed for our members later this fall.
On Wednesday, we reviewed the costs of each benefit plan at the tire plants. This gave us a chance to discuss issues that have developed in our benefits with corporate benefits representatives. In addition, we reviewed employment information for each tire plant that included staffing levels, safety performance, production output, absenteeism rates, projects, etc.
On Thursday, we all met and heard from Bill Campbell as he outlined sales for the tire division and what plans were for each plant in the near future. Next, we heard from the company’s customer service – quality – warranty and ISO auditor. Following that discussion, the group was given preview of the Company’s newly developed Centralized Safety System (AS/400 Program). That afternoon, each individual plant met in an effort to try and solve local issues between the parties. Following the individual sessions, each Local presented its ideas to improve productivity at each of its locations. Last, the entire group toured the Bryan plant.
On Friday, the Union representatives met again at the Local #890 Union Hall to discuss remaining issues of our members at each location and plan for upcoming activities. Local Union reps from Des Moines and Freeport then began their long drives home.
Local 890 members should see any Board Member or Robert Bok for details on these or any other subjects you have questions about.
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Steelworkers Endorse John Edwards for President
For Immediate Release September 3, 2007
Pittsburgh - The United Steelworkers (USW) today endorsed Senator John Edwards as the Democratic nominee for President.
The USW, the nation’s largest private sector union, was joined in making its endorsement by the United Mineworkers of America (UMWA), giving Edwards the largest bloc of union support so far among the field of eight presidential candidates.
In making the announcement, USW President Leo W. Gerard said, “All of the Democratic candidates in the field share our values, and any one of them would be a major improvement over the current administration.
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August 2, 2007
Judge Orders Continental Tire to Fulfill Contract, Pay Health Care Costs for Retired Workers
Must restore payment of coverage for retirees
PITTSBURGH – A federal judge yesterday issued a summary judgment ordering Continental Tire Co. to pay medical premiums for 2,000 retired United Steelworkers who filed a class action lawsuit against their employer after Continental arbitrarily cut the benefit.
Federal Judge Jack Zouhary of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio Western Division told the German-based tire company to fulfill its contractual obligations to the retired workers from plants in Charlotte, N.C.; Mayfield, Ky. and Bryan, Ohio, and is expected ultimately to enter final relief on behalf of 2,000 affected retirees
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June 17, 2007
REPORT SAYS BRYAN IS THE PLACE
Tire Business magazine reports in its June 4, 2007 publication that Titan Tire is to produce an estimated 6,000 giant radial OTR tires a year at the Bryan, Ohio plant it acquired from Continental Tire North America, Inc. last year. After studying the market situation for several months and engaging financial management and advisory firm Merrill Lynch & Co. to assist in the process, Titan’s board of directors recently approved funding to add the capacity for 57- and 63- inch radial low-profile OTR tires which fit the current generation of massive dump trucks being use increasingly by the world’s mining operations.
The undisclosed funding will allow for production that will generate up to $240 million in sales, according to Titan Chairman and CEO Maurice Taylor, Jr., with an expansion that will create 100 to 150 new jobs in Bryan. Additionally, perhaps up to 30 new jobs could be created at Titan’s wheel plants in Saltville, W.Va. and Quincy.
This expansion comes as Titan is wrapping up work on expanding capacity for smaller OTR tires at its plants in Freeport, Ill. and Des Moines, Iowa. These changes include additional building drums, molds and services to produce different, mostly larger tires and shifting some tire-building equipment among the sites.
The Company expects to produce its first 63- inch radial tire in the first quarter of 2008 and be in start-up production by the end of the second quarter. Titan will use its proprietary 15-degree technology for the new tires and wheels, Mr. Taylor said.
"We’re very excited about this newest venture since there are only two manufacturers in the world that produce 63-inch radial tires - Michelin and Bridgestone," he said. Taylor adds, "We believe radial tires perform better on 15 degree wheels, which is what cars and trucks now utilize. Titan has developed these wheels and we plan to produce our new tires on a 72.5-inch 15-degree wheel at the same time we produce 63-inch radial tires."
Taylor went on to say that a large percentage of tires taken out of service at mines are removed because of sidewall damage, not because they’re warn out. He claims Titan’s LSW technology will help reduce this cause of failure, especially in dual fitments because stones don’t get trapped between the lower profile tires as easily. In addition, he said, the larger rim diameter provides more brake clearance, which leads to better brake cooling and less heat transfer to the rim, thus yielding less stress on the tire. Earlier, Titan said its is increasing its selection of radial tires made at its Bryan plant through size 51-inch using both old and 15-degree tire/wheel technology.
The approved funding will also allow Titan to build a 24-foot bull wheel which Titan claims will be the world’s largest. The bull wheel, as specialized wheel used to test tires at Titan’s Quincy headquarters, will have the capacity to load tires up to 300,000 pounds and run them at speed up to 42 miles per hour.
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May, 2007
TITAN BOARD APPROVES PRODUCTION OF GIANT MINING TIRES
QUINCY, Ill.—Titan International Inc.’s Board of Directors approved funding for the company to increase its mining tire production capacity to include 57- and 63-inch giant radial tires at its Titan Tire facilities. This funding should allow Titan to produce up to an estimated 6,000 giant radial tires a year.
“We are very excited about this newest venture since there are only two manufacturers in the world that produce 63-inch radial tires—Michelin and Bridgestone,” said Titan Chairman and CEO Maurice M. Taylor Jr. “This is what it’s all about; a small American company going up against two power house foreign companies, one French, the other Japanese.
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April 27, 2007
Titan to make aggressive moves in OTR segment
"Our plan is to radialize 51-inch OTR tires and down," Titan International Inc. Chairman and CEO Morry Taylor told investors earlier today, April 27, during a conference call.
Taylor also told investors that Titan "has all the molds and mixing capacity and everything else" to manufacture larger tires in the 57- and 63-inch range.
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April 18, 2007
United Steelworkers Release Report Highlighting Continental AG’s Failures in the North American Tire Market
Report reveals that North American subsidiary has lost $1.2 billion over the past five years
For Immediate Release
Pittsburgh—The United Steelworkers recently released an executive report, 20 Years Asleep at the Wheel; Continental Tire’s Failure in North America, highlighting some of the company’s most stunning failures in the North American tire market. Relying on extensive market and industry research, hundreds of interviews with independent tire dealers, and a twenty year relationship with the company, the USW zeros in on major management blunders that have cost shareholders hundreds of millions of dollars.
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April 13, 2006
One Strong Voice
USW, Weirton Independent Union Sign Merger Agreement
In the Bible, Jeremiah 29, verse 11 offers a message of optimism: “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Members of the former Independent Steelworkers Union say the message reflects how they feel now that they are members of the United Steelworkers. Leaders from the unions met Friday in Pittsburgh to sign a merger agreement.
The ISU and its 1,150 members at Arcelor-Mittal’s Weirton, W.Va., mill are now USW Local 2911, named for the Bible verse.
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USW Reaches Tentative Agreement with Bridgestone/Firestone
Ratification to be completed by April 25
For Immediate release April 4, 2007
Pittsburgh - The United Steelworkers (USW) announced today that a tentative agreement was reached with Bridgestone/Firestone Company (BFS) last night on a Master Agreement covering workers at six plants.
“The tentative agreement and contract proposals follow the pattern established in the BF Goodrich and Goodyear contracts,” said USW Executive Vice President Ron Hoover of the union’s Rubber and Plastic Industry Conference (R\PIC).
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February 28, 2007
Titan Posts $5.1 Million in Earninngs on 45% Increase in Sales
“Due to a nearly 15 percent decrease in the farm market in 2006, Titan is converting approximately one-third of production at our facility in Freeport, Illinois, from farm to off-the-road (OTR) tire production,” said Titan Chairman and CEO Maurice M. Taylor. “Titan’s three tire facilities in Freeport, Des Moines, Iowa, and Bryan, Ohio, began a process of realignment this past fourth quarter, and will continue this process through the second quarter of 2007. It is Titan’s goal to produce over $200 million in OTR tires in 2007. Titan is also moving ahead with new designs for OTR tires and wheels, which we believe will change the entire industry. The farm business is starting to grow, but it will be later in the year before Titan can say how strong it will be in 2007.”
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February 4, 2007
Former Steelworker President
George Becker Dies
For Immediate Release
Pittsburgh -- George Becker, a second-generation steelworker who became the sixth international president of the United Steelworkers (USW), died Saturday at his home in Gibsonia, Pa., surrounded by his family, following a long battle with prostate cancer. He was 78.
| Mr. Becker, who served seven years as the union’s international president, was a respected union organizer and strategist and an internationally-known spokesman for industrial safety, workers’ rights on the job and fair global trade. He was elected president in 1993 and again in 1997. |
-Please Read More-
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January 30, 2007
United Steelworkers POWERcast
POWERcast is the United Steelworkers’ internet radio program, a fast new way to provide union news and reports of interest to all working families.
For comments or suggestions, write Powercast@usw.org .
Episode 1 - January 29, 2006
This week, POWERcast features an interview with USW President Leo W. Gerard about the crucial role of solidarity in the Goodyear strike late last year.
Also, U.S. Rep. George Miller, the California Democrat who introduced the minimum wage increase in Congress and got it passed Jan. 10, talks about the Senate Republicans’ demand that the measure include tax breaks for small business.
We’ve got a special treat for you at the end of our POWERcast. We call it Creep of the Week. Here’s a clue about our winner: do you think you could screw up at work then get your company to hand you $210 million buckaroos to quit?
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