BY RAY PARSONS AND TIM MAILHOT
DES MOINES, Iowa - On April 17 members of United Steelworkers of America (USWA) Local 164 at Titan Tire Corp. voted unanimously to authorize strike action as the April 30 expiration of their contract draws near. A big majority of the local's membership turned out for four meetings held that day to discuss the question, with 486 out of some 600 members of the local taking part in the vote.

Titan produces tires for construction, agricultural, mining, and military use. It is a subsidiary of Titan International, a major manufacturer of wheels for industrial and agricultural applications.

Three years ago, the union accepted a pact that imposed concessions, after voting down two offers. During that contract fight, Titan had made moves to hire replacement workers. In the same period Bridgestone/Firestone, a major competitor of Titan with a plant also located in Des Moines, replaced strikers during a 10-month battle.

The contract approved in 1994 slashed rates for some classifications by as much as $4 an hour and established a hire-in rate of just $7 an hour for many jobs. The pension plan was eliminated and workers were forced to begin paying for medical coverage. Incentive pay was also eliminated, lowering pay even more on some jobs. Under the contract the company has imposed 20 hours of overtime per week, as well as working three weekends in a row. For more than a year, many workers have typically gotten only two days off a month.

At the strike authorization vote, many workers could be seen buying and wearing buttons and T-shirts that feature a hooded cobra and the slogan, "If provoked, I will strike." One union member told the Militant that this would be a good time to take back some of what they lost. "Unemployment is low and there's nothing in the warehouse, except the tires that don't sell." Another added, "There's one thing Taylor wants and that's money. He'll compromise to avoid a strike."

Titan, previously owned by Pirelli Armstrong, was purchased by Maurice Taylor, Jr. in 1994, one day after the contract with Pirelli expired. Taylor is CEO of Titan International of Quincy, Illinois. In 1994, he campaigned for the Republican nomination for president. His views, printed as a full page ad in USA Today, called for raising the retirement age, sterilization of welfare recipients, televised whipping as punishment for misdemeanors, and solitary confinement for felons. He also supported use of the death penalty and the expulsion of undocumented immigrants.

At the Bridgestone/Firestone plant across town, members of USWA Local 310 discuss the contract fight at Titan on a daily basis. Many have relatives or friends working at Titan, or have worked there themselves. Terry Welch, an inspector at Firestone, described the solidarity Local 164 extended to them during their fight. "When we had to have all our members at a union meeting, they came down and did picket duty for us. Now it's our turn to help them."

Tim Mailhot and Ray Parsons are members of USWA Local 310.  
 
 
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