ad info

 
CNN.comTranscripts
 
Editions | myCNN | Video | Audio | Headline News Brief | Feedback  

 

  Search
 
 

 

TOP STORIES

Bush signs order opening 'faith-based' charity office for business

Rescues continue 4 days after devastating India earthquake

DaimlerChrysler employees join rapidly swelling ranks of laid-off U.S. workers

Disney's GO.com is a goner

(MORE)

MARKETS
4:30pm ET, 4/16
144.70
8257.60
3.71
1394.72
10.90
879.91
 


WORLD

U.S.

POLITICS

LAW

TECHNOLOGY

ENTERTAINMENT

 
TRAVEL

ARTS & STYLE



(MORE HEADLINES)
 
CNN Websites
Networks image


Morning News

Firestone Faces Strike on Top of Recall Furor

Aired September 1, 2000 - 9:04 a.m. ET

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

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: The government has increased the number of fatalities possibly linked to defective Firestone tires. Officials are now investigating a total of 88 deaths and more than 250 injuries. Venezuelan authorities have recommended criminal prosecution of Ford and Firestone because of deaths blamed on defective tires in that country. And on top of that, Firestone could be facing a strike this weekend.

CNN's Mark Potter has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARK POTTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The timing of the labor problem couldn't be worse for Bridgestone/Firestone. In Nashville, about 200 of its union workers marched on corporate headquarters to show they are prepared to strike nationwide in the middle of the tire recall.

The United Steelworkers of America has been negotiating for a new contract since March. The union says if there is no settlement by midnight Friday, its 8,000 workers will likely go on strike at nine Bridgestone/Firestone tire plants in seven states.

KEN SYDENSTRICKER, UNION MEMBER: It's kind of sad to me that the company won't -- will not negotiate fairly and force us out on strike, especially at this bad time. They can't afford it.

POTTER: Company officials say they are negotiating in good faith and are working around the clock to try to avert a walkout.

CHRISTINE KARBOWIAK, BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE SPOKESWOMAN: We don't think a strike benefits anyone. It doesn't benefit the employees, it doesn't benefit the company, it doesn't benefit our customers.

POTTER: Nevertheless, the company says it is flying in tires from Japan and is making contingency plans. It predicts a strike would have minimal effect on the tire recall. Workers outside corporate headquarters urged the company to reach an agreement.

DAVID BOATMAN, UNION MEMBER: The best thing the company could do is work with us. Everybody get back to work, get the tires they need, get everybody happy, and safe, and satisfied.

(END VIDEOTAPE) POTTER: This morning we're outside the Bridgestone/Firestone plant in La Vergne, Tennessee, near the corporate headquarters in Nashville. Here at the plant some 1,300 steelworkers are awaiting word today from negotiators. Now both sides here say they don't want a strike. They can see they're under pressure to settle this because of the tire recall. But strike preparations are under way on both sides as the talks come down to the wire.

Mark Potter, CNN, reporting live from La Vergne, Tennessee.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Mark, thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com

 Search   


Back to the top  © 2001 Cable News Network. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.