The strike against Goodyear Tire and Rubber by the United Steelworkers of America entered its seventh week without a resolution. In the latest round of negotiations between USW, representing about 15,000 workers in 16 plants, and Goodyear, the world’s largest tire company, the union has rejected proposals that would drastically reduce pay and benefits to union members.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, AFL-CIO continues to operate under imposed work rules by the Federal Aviation Administration after the FAA broke off contract negotiations on, ironically, Labor Day. The new rules include a two tier pay system which freezes the salaries of current controllers and pays new hires 30 percent less, deleting the requirement for breaks after two hours on a control position, and routine denial of sick leave.
Houston, Texas janitors represented by Service Employees International Union endured a month long strike and shocking acts of police brutality to win salary increases and health insurance benefits. The pay increase, to be phased in over three years, raises hourly wages from $5.30 to $7.95.
Ford Incorporated is offering buyout packages to employees after announcing it intends to reduce its workforce by 30,000 hourly and 14,000 salaried positions by 2008. Ford lost nearly $7 billion in the first three quarters of 2006.
Nike Incorporated has stopped placing orders for hand-stitched soccer balls from Saga Sports, a Pakistan based company, after a six month investigation. Nike found numerous labor, environmental, and safety violations within Saga’s facilities, including allegations by trade unionists and employees of worker harassment, wrongful termination, and inaccurate payment of wages.
