BY RAY PARSONS
DES MOINES, Iowa - Members of the United Steelworkers of
America (USWA) on strike against Titan Tire have stepped up
efforts to win support for their fight.
The strike expanded to a second plant owned by Titan boss Maurice Taylor Jr. when 500 members of USWA Local 303L in Natchez, Mississippi, walked out September 15, joining the battle of USWA Local 164 in Des Moines. The 670 unionists here have been on the picket lines since May 1. The main issues are forced overtime, cancelled pension and health-care benefits for retirees, and two-tier wages.
The Natchez plant was recently acquired by Titan through the bankruptcy courts. The strike there began when Titan demanded contract concessions from Local 303L.
On September 23, Local 164 striker Linda Burgess spoke at the monthly meeting of USWA Local 7263 in St. Paul, Minnesota. The previous month, members of Local 7263, who work at North Star Steel, voted to invite a representative from the Titan strike to the next regular meeting, and to organize a collection for the strikers.
Burgess has worked at Titan for 18 years. She told the Minnesota steelworkers about the conditions that led workers at the tire plant to strike, including working 26 days straight with no time off. She reported, to the approval of all present, how the new strike in Natchez is throwing a monkey wrench into one of Titan's key tactics -pressuring Local 164 with threats of moving production out of Des Moines.
Earlier in the day Burgess participated in a plant gate collection with members of Local 7263. With little advance notice, local members contributed close to $500 to the Titan strikers. The local also made a contribution from its funds.
Local 164 members have been hand billing at farm trade shows around the Midwest where Titan displays its products. Marty Middleswart, a tire mold machinist with 33 years in the Des Moines plant, was part of the team that went to the Farm Progress Show held in Windfall, Indiana, September 29-October 1.
"We explained that the strike is not a money issue - it's a moral issue, about how Taylor treats his employees," Middleswart said. "Before the strike we were working 26 days on and two days off, and some of us up to 84 hours a week. We got a good response from farmers who took our flyers."
Middleswart noted that Titan was working overtime to make a good impression at the show, donating tires for a benefit auction for the Future Farmers of America, an organization involving the children of farmers. "But we were really getting under Taylor's skin."
One display, for Steiger tractors, was staffed by union workers from that company's plant in Fargo, North Dakota. They promised the Local 164 strikers that they would take flyers back to their United Auto Workers local and spread the word.
Middleswart has also participated in the USWA organizing drive at Titan Wheel in Quincy, Illinois. He's looking forward to going to more farm shows. "Any time I can be a thorn in Taylor's side, I'll be there. I always have my car full of gas, ready to go."
Strikers from Local 303L will be hand billing at the Farmer-Stockman Show in Lubbock, Texas, October 13-15, and at the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition in Moultrie, Georgia, October 20-22.
Three Local 164 strikers participated in the October 11 action in Virden, Illinois, marking the 1898 "Battle for Virden," when coal miners fought police to defend their newly formed union at the Chicago-Virden Coal Company. United Mine Workers of America members on strike at Freeman United mines in Virden and elsewhere participated in the commemoration.
In an October 5 press release, Titan threatened to hire an additional 200 strikebreakers in Des Moines, and claimed that more than 1,100 applications were received for strikebreakers in Natchez. At the same time, the company admitted that "the strike will impact Titan's earnings."
A trial began October 13 in Des Moines concerning unfair labor practices charges issued against Titan by the National Labor Relations Board September 15. The complaint details Titan's violation of labor law, including threats to replace strikers; cutting off medical benefits to union members who were ill, disabled, or pregnant at the start of the strike; and refusing to negotiate.
Meanwhile, contract negotiations are under way in Uruguay between Titan and the main union federation. The company acquired the FUNSA tire plant there in June 1998.
Ray Parsons is a member of USWA Local 310 in Des Moines and is the Socialist Workers candidate for Secretary of Agriculture. John Hawkins, a member of USWA Local 7263 in St. Paul, contributed to this article.