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29 June, 1999The past week has seen tremendous global trade union action in support of striking U.S. tire workers.
USA: A number of recent trade union protests have taken place worldwide in reaction to the 10-month-long workers' dispute with management at Continental General Tire, the U.S. subsidiary of the German-owned tiremaker, Continental AG. The U.S. company's plant is situated in Charlotte, N.C. and is organised by the United Steelworkers of America, an affiliate of the IMF.
On June 23, the IMF's Central Committee, meeting in Helsinki, unanimously adopted a resolution supporting the workers' just demands and condemning the company's use of permanent replacements. The resolution demanded that all 1,450 workers be returned to their jobs at Continental General Tire.
On June 24, 800 South African employees of Continental AG's General Tire South Africa, in Port Elizabeth, went on a support strike lasting two hours. They are members of the IMF-affiliated National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa. Along with 150 union shop stewards, they presented a letter to the company's South African CEO, who agreed to forward NUMSA's demands to company headquarters in Hanover, Germany.
On June 25, Australian trade unionists picketed in front of the German consulate in Sydney, calling on the German government to put pressure on company headquarters.
In the USA, protests took place at German consulates in several cities, as well as at Ford Motor Co. dealerships in 61 cities (Ford fits Continental General tires on several of its models).
There was also solidarity action in France and Belgium by unions organising Continental workers in those two countries.
The USWA stated that it would continue to "escalate the campaign until Continental General Tire returns to the bargaining table and begins negotiating in good faith." A new complaint, the second one, is being issued by the U.S. National Labor Relations Board, Region 11, against Continental's U.S. subsidiary, stating the U.S. company committed further unlawful conduct during negotiations. The Charlotte strike began on September 20, 1998.
For further information on this dispute, consult the news archives on this website, as well as that of the USWA.
On June 23, the IMF's Central Committee, meeting in Helsinki, unanimously adopted a resolution supporting the workers' just demands and condemning the company's use of permanent replacements. The resolution demanded that all 1,450 workers be returned to their jobs at Continental General Tire.
On June 24, 800 South African employees of Continental AG's General Tire South Africa, in Port Elizabeth, went on a support strike lasting two hours. They are members of the IMF-affiliated National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa. Along with 150 union shop stewards, they presented a letter to the company's South African CEO, who agreed to forward NUMSA's demands to company headquarters in Hanover, Germany.
On June 25, Australian trade unionists picketed in front of the German consulate in Sydney, calling on the German government to put pressure on company headquarters.
In the USA, protests took place at German consulates in several cities, as well as at Ford Motor Co. dealerships in 61 cities (Ford fits Continental General tires on several of its models).
There was also solidarity action in France and Belgium by unions organising Continental workers in those two countries.
The USWA stated that it would continue to "escalate the campaign until Continental General Tire returns to the bargaining table and begins negotiating in good faith." A new complaint, the second one, is being issued by the U.S. National Labor Relations Board, Region 11, against Continental's U.S. subsidiary, stating the U.S. company committed further unlawful conduct during negotiations. The Charlotte strike began on September 20, 1998.
For further information on this dispute, consult the news archives on this website, as well as that of the USWA.