Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, August 25, 1994 TAG: 9408250097
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By GREG EDWARDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Nearly 800 union members at Yokohama's Salem tire plant have been on the picket line for more than a month, since the union's contract with the company expired at midnight July 23.
"We're making a little progress," Wayne Friend, president of Rubber Workers Local 1023, said after the conclusion of Tuesday's talks. A federal mediator who took part in negotiations between the company and the union Aug. 11 did not participate in the two days of talks this week, Friend said.
Richard Switzer, vice president for manufacturing at the tire plant, also confirmed that progress was made toward a new contract this week. Switzer's remarks were contained in a brief written statement.
Both sides have declined to discuss details of the negotiations publicly.
"We're gaining a little ground; things are looking a little better," was the most Friend would say.
Friend said union members can pick up checks for their $100 weekly strike pay at the Salem Civic Center today between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Food boxes will be distributed to strikers at the union office on Brandon Avenue. Strikers earned an average of nearly $27 an hour in wages and benefits before the strike.
Yokohama Tire is owned by Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd., a Japanese company.
Strikes continue this week at three other foreign-owned tire makers around the country: Dunlop, Bridgestone-Firestone and Pirelli Armstrong. It is possible that a settlement at Yokohama could set a pattern for Rubber Workers at the other companies to follow, Friend said, or a settlement at one of the other companies could have an impact on the Yokohama negotiations.
The union has accused the four tire makers, three Japanese-owned and one Italian-owned, of trying to destroy contractual relationships that took six decades to develop.
by CNB