Cooper Tire Workers Strike

[struggle4progress]

It`s Texarkana`s largest employer, but on Sunday the Cooper Tire plant sat mostly idle.

More than 16-hundred members of the United Steel Workers walked off the job at midnight after negotiations broke down.
At issue are changes in cooper`s health benefit plan, and various work rules. <snip>

http://www.newschannel6.tv/news/default.asp?mode=shownews&id=7322

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

1. Cooper Tire...

... was bought out by Goodyear a few years ago. Just thought I would mention it.

[struggle4progress]

2. Cooper Tire strike: Contract talks run flat

Tuesday, March 15, 2005 9:30 AM CST

By AARON BRAND
Texarkana Gazette

The main parking lot at Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. stood nearly desolate Monday for day two of a walkout by nearly 1,700 union workers as contract negotiations stopped.

Throughout the day and night, strikers held picket signs and waved at passing cars near the union hall and on U.S. Highway 82 to show their support.

Mike Penney, chairman of the press committee for United Steelworkers of America Local 752L, said on Monday evening talks between the company and the union's negotiating committee had stopped. <snip>

http://www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/2005/03/15/local_news/news/news01.txt

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3. Cooper Tire files for injunction against striking workers

<snip> The strike started Sunday and talks ended Monday. The Texarkana Gazette reported that about 1,700 workers were not reporting to their jobs. The plant employs about 2,000 workers. <snip>

http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D88SVPV80.html

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6. Cooper Tire injunction bid is rejected

By Shawn Langlois, MarketWatch
Last Update: 4:31 PM ET March 18, 2005

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) - Shares of Cooper Tire & Rubber fell as much as 4 percent Friday following news that a judge denied the tiremaker's request for a restraining order against union picketers. <snip>

The Findlay, Ohio-based company had gone to court to stop picketers from demonstrating at its plant in Texarkana, Ark., where it employs about 2,000 workers putting out 40,000 tires a day at full operating capacity.

Employees went on strike last weekend after the company and union negotiators failed to reach an agreement on a new labor contract; health-care premiums and wage increases are the key sticking points.

Judge Jim Hudson of the Miller County Circuit Court set a hearing for Tuesday to further review the request, according to the Texarkana Gazette. <snip>

http://cbs.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7B2C9F4761-CD97-4690-9A7E-CD7BA20E625B%7D&siteid=google&dist=google

[struggle4progress]

7. Cooper Tire strike: Judge disallows restraining order

Friday, March 18, 2005 9:25 AM CST

Demonstration is hurting business, customers, company says in letter

By AARON BRAND
Texarkana Gazette

A local judge on Thursday denied a request by Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. for a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction without notice filed against the United Steelworkers of American Local 752L.

But Judge Jim Hudson of the Miller County Circuit Court set a hearing for Tuesday to further review the request Cooper filed Wednesday in a complaint alleging that picketers outside the Texarkana plant were harassing and obstructing traffic. The union has denied the charges.

Cooper Tire requested that the union should be restrained from staging a picket on grounds owned or leased by Cooper and be restricted when picketing near the plant. <snip>

"It is the intent of the company to lower your standard of living by raising your portion of the health care cost. It is the intent of this company to treat as second class citizens anyone who is hired after a new contract is signed. It is the intent of this company to cause disharmony among its workforce," states the union. <snip>

http://www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/2005/03/18/local_news/news/news03.txt

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8. Judge to hold hearing on Cooper plant strike

TEXARKANA — A circuit judge has set a Tuesday hearing to reconsider a request from Cooper Tire and Rubber Co. to stop striking union members from blocking access to the company’s plant at Texarkana. <snip>

The strike started Sunday and talks ended Monday. The Texarkana Gazette reported that about 1,700 of the plant’s 2,000 workers were not reporting for work. <snip>

http://www.ardemgaz.com/ShowStoryTemplate.asp?Path=ArDemocrat/2005/03/19&ID=Ar03900&Section=Business

[SlavesandBulldozers]

4. i love cooper tires

i had a set of Cooper Cobras once. They were beautiful.

I'm glad to see the workers are well organized, I hope they get benefits and all that they need. They certainly deserve it they make a great product.

[guitar man]

5. Go union!!!!

Give 'em hell!!

[proud patriot]

9. I stand with you

:hi: