Cooper Tire, Findlay Steelworkers reach agreement

A report from Ohio this morning states that Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. and the United Steelworkers of America Local 207L have reached a tentative agreement that, if ratified by union members, will keep the Findlay, Ohio facility open. We knew that discussions were underway between labor and management at that facility. Cooper Tire is in the process of conducting a capacity study in which it says it will close one of its four U.S. plants. Other than Findlay, Ohio, Cooper has plants in Texarkana, Arkansas, Albany, Georgia, and Tupelo, Mississippi.

The Northeast Mississippi Journal reported Tuesday that Mississippi is offering incentives valued at $30 million to keep the Tupelo location of Cooper Tire there. Other than Findlay -- the home of Cooper's Headquarters -- the only union plant is in Texarkana. All four locations have already visited with Cooper officials. We had our meeting Monday. This is shaping up to be a two-horse race between Texarkana and Albany.