Last week I wrote about how the United Steelworkers are using YouTube to spread their message about their strike against Goodyear Tire and Rubber. It was great to see an organization like USW embracing all the tools out there to reach workers, consumers, and anyone watching YouTube about their struggle.
Since then I've seen their strike gaining mainstream media attention too. Their use of the internet is revolutionary in labor relations and I applaud their willingness to be innovative. The real issue though is the negotiations, the terms Goodyear is trying to force on them and their steadfastness in protecting their workers and retirees. In that regard there are actions scheduled for this Saturday at the following Goodyear retail locations: (thanks to "steelworker" for sending these)
Columbus, Ohio area stores:
Goodyear Auto Service Center, 5015 N. High St., Columbus
Mark Shaw 614-314-4807
Detroit (Redford), Michigan: 13955 Telegraph Road, 8 a.m.
Bay City, Michigan: meeting at USW Local 12075 hall (3510 James Savage
Rd.,
Midland)
Bay City office (503 N. Euclid Ave., Suite 10, Bay City) at 9:30 a.m.,
arriving at Goodyear sites by 10a.m.
701 N. Euclid Avenue, Bay City (primary)
725 S. Saginaw Road, Midland (secondary)
Madison, Wisconsin:
608 E. Washington Street, 12 Noon
3773 E. Washington Street (near striking Goodyear local at Sun Prairie)
12
Noon
Arthur Kroll 920-722-1288
Regina, Canada
11 a.m. meet at USW office, 26-395 Park St.
Roger Falconer 416-948-4515
*Cherry Hill, NJ:
Just Tires, 408 Haddonfield Rd. (by the Cherry Hill Mall), 9am
Kenmore: NY 1795 Sheraton Dr., 9 am
Braintree, Mass.:
Sullivan Tire and Auto Service, 120 Ivory St., 3 p.m.
Sullivan Tire and Auto Service, 387 Common St
Dan Dunlap 716-408-6080
Montreal, Que. (details tba)
Roger Falconer 416-948-4515
Ottawa, Ont.
Meet at 11 a.m., USW office, 2285 St. Laurent Blvd.
Roger Falconer 416-948-4515
Fort Wayne, Ind., 4106 Coldwater Rd., 9 a.m.
Indianapolis (Speedway), Ind., 5970 Crawfordsville Rd., 10 am
Highland, 9500 Indianapolis Blvd., 10 a.m.
Hobart, Ind. (details tba)
Merrillville, Ind..(details tba)
Sal Aguilar 219-689-3194
Louisville, Ky. (Shively)
Goodyear Auto, 4900 Dixie Hwy, 10 a.m.
Eddie Robitson 540-529-2100, 540 890 5784
Birmingham, Al:
201 Roebuck, Plaza Drive, 9 am
1623 Montgomery Hwy, 9 am
Union City, TN (details tba)
Fayetteville, NC (details tba)
Dan Flippo 205-213-6464
Allentown/Bethlehem (Whitehall) 1141 McArthur Rd., 10 a.m.
John Zanetti 724-525-2913
Topeka, Kansas 420 SW Croix (Topeka & Croix) 8 a.m.
5140 SW 21st St. (21st and Fairlawn Rd), 8 a.m.
Lincoln, Neb., Graham Tire Stores at 2121 Cornhusker Hwy and 6800
“O” St., 8
a.m.
Emil Ramirez 785-806-3106
Portland, Oregon
HB Tire Center, 4547 NE Sandy Blvd., Portland, 11 a.m.
& Division Tire, Division St.
Salt Lake City (Taylorsville): Anderson Tire, 4752 South Redwood Rd.,
10:00am
Bob LaVenture 505-463-0091
Houston, Texas: Goodyear/Gemini Store, 1519 Fannin, 9 a.m.
Phillip’s Tire, 2212 Mangum Rd., 9 a.m.
Tyler, Texas: Sam’s Club, 2025 S Southwest Loop 323, 9 a.m.
Discount Tire Co Of Texas, 3910 S Broadway Ave (Off of Loop 323), 9
a.m.
Holman Thompson 281-300-2482
15,000 workers are affected by this action. Goodyear is seeking to restrict their job security and reduce healthcare for retirees. Why is it we continue having all this labor strife over healthcare when we can solve this crisis once and for all with H.R. 676? Why are these companies and workers faced with this stress, financial difficulty and dissension when universal, single payer health care will eliminate all this trouble? It will also insure that companies like Goodyear can compete without having their workers suffer the consequences.
These workers dedicated their lives to Goodyear in return for the promise (in contracts) of healthcare in their retirement. Now the company wants to renege on those contracts. This isn't right.
Meanwhile the USW are concerned that the safety of Goodyear tires could be a serious consumer threat. Tires made by scabs during a previous strike wound up on Ford Explorers and people were killed in resultant rollover accidents. You can stay current on the situation at this USW website.
Note the action Saturday morning at the Allentown (Whitehall) store. I plan on being there to show my support. If you can also attend let's rally with the steelworkers.
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