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Sunday Morning News

Contract Talks Still Under Way Between Firestone and Union Workers

Aired September 3, 2000 - 9:05 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Both sides say the talks are constructive in the effort to avert a strike by 8,400 workers at the troubled Firestone company. Firestone is already reeling from a massive tire recall, but workers at nine Firestone plants stand ready to strike at a moment's notice.

CNN's Mark Potter is at one of those plants. He has the latest -- Mark.

MARK POTTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Kyra.

The bottom line here this morning is that the workers are on the job, the plant is humming. We can hear it behind us. And the contract talks are still under way, despite a strike threat.

Now, this has got good news for the Bridgestone/Firestone Company, which of course wants to prevent a walkout in the middle of a big tire recall.

Now, this morning, here at the plant in La Vergne, Tennessee, the day shift arrived around sunup, and went in and began its 12-hour workday. The night shift left without incident.

Both sides in the contract talks being held in St. Louis indicate that progress is still being made. Now, overnight Bridgestone/Firestone issued a statement about the negotiations, saying, "The tone is constructive. We remain hopeful that the progress will lead us to reach an agreement acceptable to both parties."

Now, we're joined this morning by Scott Smith, who's the chief steward of local 1055L here in La Vergne, Tennessee. Scott, good morning. Thanks for joining us at an early hour after a late night on your part.

What -- do you agree with the company position that the tone of the talks is constructive?

SCOTT SMITH, USWA CHIEF STEWARD: Yes, sir. What contact we've had with our representatives, we'd like to restate our support and full confidence in our representatives in St. Louis.

POTTER: Yes, what are you hearing from them? SMITH: Very little details, playing it pretty close to the vest in an effort to make sure we don't derail the process.

POTTER: But what's the tone that you get from them?

SMITH: Very, very progressive, yes.

POTTER: Very positive?

SMITH: Yes, sir.

POTTER: And I guess the point is that if things were going badly, they could pull the plug and call the strike at any moment, right?

SMITH: Yes, we're in a situation now where we needn't give any notice, we can pull the people at a moment's notice.

POTTER: But the point is, even though the deadline is now more than 24 hours hold, it has not happened.

SMITH: Right.

POTTER: What are the workers inside here being told to do right now?

SMITH: Just to work safely and continue without incident. And they as well support their representatives and feel confident in their decision making.

POTTER: And the mood of the workers?

SMITH: It's excellent. We remain upbeat. We feel certain we're going to have a good, fair agreement shortly.

POTTER: So you think that the likelihood of a strike is probably not very great, given the way things are going.

SMITH: We're prepared, and we're just on standby alert. If that's what we need to do, we're prepared to do it.

POTTER: Again, but the tone positive?

SMITH: Tone is positive at this time.

POTTER: All right, sir, thanks for your help...

SMITH: Thank you, Mark.

POTTER: ... for talking to us, appreciate it.

SMITH: Thank you.

POTTER: Well, the company claims that a walkout would actually not have a major impact on the tire recall because most of the replacement tires are made at nonunion plants and in Canada. But it would have a big impact on the production of other tires, and of course it would be a public relations nightmare to have picketers walking up along this fence line with signs against the company at such a critical time in the company's history.

So therefore, talks continue in earnest today in St. Louis.

This is Mark Potter reporting live from La Vergne, Tennessee.

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