But neither the company nor the USW revealed the length of the new pact.
Cooper did say that USW Local 752 workers had been working under a contract that would not expire until 2010.
The Texarkana plant and other Cooper tire plants in Findlay, Ohio, Albany, Ga., and Tupelo, Miss., are still being reviewed by the company as it examines its capacity needs. Workers at Cooper’s Findlay plant last week approved a new three-year contract that will trim some $30 million in costs over three years.
While not committing that the new labor pacts will have any bearing on Cooper’s capacity decision, John Bodart, acting vice president for North American Tire Operations, said, "We were pleased at the cooperation with our union leadership in coming to the table early to help put Cooper in a more competitive position. This new contract will be factored into the network capacity analysis now being done for all of our manufacturing plants in North America."
USW Local 752 workers will meet to vote on the new contract on Dec. 12-13. (Tire Review/Akron)