Some 15,000 workers employed by Goodyear—the largest tire manufacturer in the United States—have been on strike since October 5 at 12 U.S and 4 Canadian plants. The workers walked out to oppose wage cuts of up to 40 percent, elimination of retiree medical benefits, and company plans to close factories in Alabama and Texas, including the one here.

Many strikers here were pleased with the turnout, especially after news of company moves to break the strike. Goodyear has engaged Modern Industrial Services (MIS), an anti-labor outfit that advertises, “We will keep your unruly union strikers under control,” to begin assembling a strikebreaking force of “temporary workers.” An Opelika-Auburn News advertisement by MIS offers a “sign on bonus” and “top pay” for immediate openings at a “tire plant in Gadsden.”

The tire giant has also started a public relations campaign to win support for using scabs. “Goodyear is selectively adding temporary workers in affected plants to continue serving customers,” says Ed Markey, a Goodyear spokesman. “Among the critical products are items needed by the American military in its war on terror around the globe.”

Asked about the company’s appeals to patriotism to get strikers back to work, Bren Riley, vice president of USW Local 12L, told the Militant, “No, we’re not going to fall for that.” Riley said the company can settle the strike if it wants to keep producing tires.

“We’ve never had a worker cross the line in a strike here,” Riley said. Union members will maintain a strong picket to “discourage anyone from crossing.”

“Solidarity is the key now,” Riley said. “Local 12 has had a long history of aiding other strikes, support that will come back to us tenfold. B.F. Goodrich workers in Tuscaloosa and Opelika are already giving us support, and the local nonunion grocery store has donated more food than anyone to our picket line.”

There are 1,250 USW members at Goodyear in Gadsden. The picket line is up 24/7, with about 20 workers always in front of the plant.
 

“The rally was so big that cars were parked all along the highway. That’s the kind of solidarity we’ve kept up since the beginning,” Robert Lemons, a picket captain who has worked in shipping for 16 years, said in a phone interview.

“Not one worker has crossed the picket line. One worker on my picket did call me today to say he had to start another job, but we’ll be able to cover for him,” Lemons said. “We’re now getting in financial contributions from unions around the area. Our round-the-clock pickets continue getting reinforcements from other unionists, family, and friends.”

“We were told that Goodyear is organizing a force of up to 300, what they are calling ‘contingency workers,’” said Ricky Shields, a millright, who also took part in the rally. “That’s not what I call them. They’re scabs. The bosses claimed they could run the plant with supervisors and temporaries. It proves we’re right in saying they couldn’t do it. This is going to be a longer battle for sure.”

On October 18, Reuters reported that Goodyear’s stocks had been downgraded due to a $1 billion loan the company took to finance its strikebreaking operations.

About 1,000 USW members are employed at the Tyler plant. The day after the October 29 rally the company announced to the press plans to close the plant.
 
 
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Solidarity with Goodyear strikers!  
 
 
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