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USW Members at Goodyear Ratify New Three-Year Contract as 86-day Strike Ends

All striking Steelworker to return beginning on January 2

For Immediate Release                                      December 29, 2006

(Pittsburgh, PA) -- The United Steelworkers (USW) announced today that a new contract at Goodyear Tire and Rubber was approved at all Locals and overall by membership by more than a two-to-one margin. More than 10,000 USW-represented members voted at the 12 locations where 14,000 Steelworkers struck on October 5.  A majority of the majority principle applied meaning that a majority of the locals as well as a majority of the overall membership voted to accept the Tentative Agreement as the new contract.

“The credit really belongs to our members and their families, whose solidarity prevented the company from short-changing them, despite all of its attempts,” said USW International president Leo W. Gerard. “Special thanks go out again to all of our AFL-CIO union affiliates, activist groups, community organizations, businesses and public officials who not only understood our struggle, but stood shoulder-to-shoulder with us.”

“It took a strike, but we achieved a fair and equitable contract that protects quality health care for active and retired members,” said USW executive vice president Ron Hoover. “And by winning major capital investment expenditures, it secures our jobs for the future.”

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