“It has come to my attention that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) recently filed a formal complaint against Continental Tire charging the company with refusing to bargain collectively with the United Steelworkers by unilaterally imposing $32 million in contract concessions, laying off employees, and eliminating tyre production at its Charlotte facility,” stated Edwards in the letter. “I understand that Continental’s decisions will force hundreds of retirees in North Carolina who are not yet Medicare-eligible to either use three-fourths or more of their pension income to pay for healthcare insurance or drop their healthcare coverage altogether and become dependent on taxpayer-funded healthcare."

Edwards called upon Hippe to "respect the right of your workers at your Charlotte facility to bargain collectively through their union, the United Steelworkers."

A trial on the NLRB complaint is scheduled for Nov. 28. The USW has also filed a complaint with the U.S. State Department over violations of Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

"We appreciate Senator Edwards intervening in this situation on behalf of North Carolina citizens and our members," said Ron Hoover, USW executive vice president. "Such actions are consistent with his efforts to support workers and their unions throughout the U.S."