Solidarity with Striking Goodyear Workers

On October 5 of this year, in response to unacceptable contract offers from the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company 15,000 members of the USW were forced to strike for job security and the guarantee of healthcare in their retirement. The Steelworkers are entering the tenth week of their strike and these 15,000 union members are fighting for their working lives.

Goodyear has already announced the shutdown of the Tyler, Texas facility- eliminating 1,200 union jobs- and is threatening to close another US facility in the near future. Meanwhile, the company plans on increasing imports from China while lobbying against improved labor standards in the developing country. Currently Goodyear production employees in China are earning as little as 42 cents an hour!

Goodyear is also working hard to get out of its obligation to retirees. The company is trying to push its retiree healthcare obligations off its books by setting up an under funded independent account to administer retiree healthcare. The fund could run dry as soon as 2013, leaving retirees- some with as many as 30 years of service- with no health insurance.

On December 16, with the help of the AFL-CIO the United Steelworkers are planning solidarity actions at Goodyear stores in over 100 cities across the United States and Canada. Come out on December 16 to join the United Steelworkers in their struggle for union jobs and healthcare and to help spread information about the strike!

Antioch CA 63 East 18th St. 11 a.m.
Concord CA 625 Contra Costa Blvd. 11 a.m.
Fontana CA 17067 Foothill Blvd. 11 a.m.
Riverside CA 5760 Mission Blvd. 11 a.m.
Fresno CA 4119 W. Shaw Ave. 11 a.m.
Montebello CA 617 Whittier Blvd. 11 a.m.
Merced CA 1635 T St. 11 a.m.
Long Beach CA 3800 Cherry Ave. 10 a.m.
Upland CA 913 Foothill Blvd. 11 a.m.
San Leandro CA 15498 E. 14th St. 11 a.m.