NEWS from the United Steelworkers: Steelworkers Target Bridgestone/Firestone at Indy 500; ''Stop Racing Jobs Overseas,'' Union Workers Tell Their Employer.INDIANAPOLIS -- Unionized Bridgestone/Firestone workers represented by the United Steelworkers United Steelworkers (USW) historic labour union representing workers in steel, aluminum, and other metallurgical industries for much of the 20th century. In the U.S. (USW USW Und So Weiter (German: and so on) USW Undersea Warfare USW United Steel Workers USW US Wheat Associates USW Ultrasonic Welding USW Ultra Short Wave USW US West Telecommunications (stock symbol) ) are making a major push at this year's Indianapolis 500 to gain public support for their campaign for a fair contract. A team of union workers from eight Bridgestone/Firestone U.S. tire plants are working the racing crowd to get out their message that Bridgestone/Firestone should provide wages, benefits, and plant reinvestment Reinvestment Using dividends, interest and capital gains earned in an investment or mutual fund to purchase additional shares or units, rather than receiving the distributions in cash. 1. In terms of stocks, it is the reinvestment of dividends to purchase additional shares. as comparable tire companies Manufacturer Country Est. Brands and Subsidiaries Aeolus Tyre China Alliance Tire Company Ltd. Israel 1950 Amtel-Povolzhye, Kirov; Amtel-Chernozemye, Voronezh Apollo Tyres Ltd. such as Goodyear have done. Firestone is a longtime major sponsor of Indy racing, but USW members say the tire company has shown less commitment to the U.S. since being purchased by Japan-based Bridgestone in 1988. The USW is seeking an agreement from Bridgestone/Firestone to reinvest in U.S. production facilities to make jobs for American workers more secure. So far the company has refused. Steelworkers have a booth on Georgetown Rd. where they are asking racing fans to sign a petition, and are distributing nearly 100,000 sets of free earplugs, Indy Racing League The Indy Racing League, better known as IRL, is the sanctioning body of a predominantly American based open-wheel racing series. The League consists of two series, the premiere IndyCar Series schedules, and black flags 1. An organization composed originally of Chinese rebels that had been driven into Tonkin by the suppression of the Taiping rebellion, but later increased by bands of pirates and adventurers. It took a prominent part in fighting the French during their hostilities with Anam, 1873-85. , all with a pro-union message. In addition, the union is running hundreds of radio ads, sponsoring a plane flyover, and running several mobile billboards on the streets around the racetrack. Larry Odum, a longtime employee at Bridgestone/Firestone's plant in LaVergne, Tenn., said, "Union workers would like to concentrate on making top quality tires, but we're not going to watch more and more of our jobs be exported overseas without a fight." |
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