FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and United Steelworkers have reached a tentative agreement on workers at six plants, avoiding a strike just two hours before a deadline.
Both sides sent out statements after reaching a compromise on a new, four-year labor contract about 10 p.m. Saturday. They have been negotiating in Cincinnati since April. A strike was similarly avoided during the last round of negotiations in 2009, when an agreement was reached three hours before the previous contract expired.
About 600 union members on an overnight shift in Fayetteville were prepared to walk out at midnight, said Terry Brewington, vice president of the local union chapter.
Most of the plant's 2,500 workers are union members.