Goodyear Tire Company and the Unionized Workforce
Goodyear Tire Company and the Unionized Workforce
HRM. /531
10/15/2012
Patrice Collier
Goodyear Tire Company and the Unionized Workforce
The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company was founded the year of 1898 in the city of Akron, Ohio by a man named Frank Seiberling. The company was named after Charles Goodyear whom was responsible for the development of vulcanized rubber. Goodyear began with only thirteen workers but quickly emerged as a leader in the production of rubber items, and by 1926 had become the world’s largest rubber company. Goodyear led the industry in the development of new products and continued its success throughout the twentieth century producing the first tubeless automobile tire in 1903, and also producing the first airplane tires in 1909 (Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, 2007).
As the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company became the prominent leader of its industry, the workers that provided the labor which produced the innovative products of Goodyear were suffering. Factory workers were forced to endure poor working conditions, low wages, and minimal benefits. In the year 1935 the workers of Goodyear, as well as B.F. Goodrich, and Firestone decided to focus their collective efforts toward changing these conditions. The workers established a union which they named the United Rubber Workers. This newly formed union organized its first strike the following year in 1934 (Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, 2007).
The Bargaining Power of a Unionized Workforce
The organization of the United Rubber Workers enabled the workforce of the rubber industry to unite and fight for better working conditions. In order to be recognized and taking seriously the union organized and orchestrated a strike. The union’s first strike began as a protest against a plan created by Goodyear to reduce wages and increase the pace of production. By depleting the company’s source of labor, management was forced to adhere to the demands of the union and this resulted in the
HRM. /531
10/15/2012
Patrice Collier
Goodyear Tire Company and the Unionized Workforce
The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company was founded the year of 1898 in the city of Akron, Ohio by a man named Frank Seiberling. The company was named after Charles Goodyear whom was responsible for the development of vulcanized rubber. Goodyear began with only thirteen workers but quickly emerged as a leader in the production of rubber items, and by 1926 had become the world’s largest rubber company. Goodyear led the industry in the development of new products and continued its success throughout the twentieth century producing the first tubeless automobile tire in 1903, and also producing the first airplane tires in 1909 (Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, 2007).
As the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company became the prominent leader of its industry, the workers that provided the labor which produced the innovative products of Goodyear were suffering. Factory workers were forced to endure poor working conditions, low wages, and minimal benefits. In the year 1935 the workers of Goodyear, as well as B.F. Goodrich, and Firestone decided to focus their collective efforts toward changing these conditions. The workers established a union which they named the United Rubber Workers. This newly formed union organized its first strike the following year in 1934 (Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, 2007).
The Bargaining Power of a Unionized Workforce
The organization of the United Rubber Workers enabled the workforce of the rubber industry to unite and fight for better working conditions. In order to be recognized and taking seriously the union organized and orchestrated a strike. The union’s first strike began as a protest against a plan created by Goodyear to reduce wages and increase the pace of production. By depleting the company’s source of labor, management was forced to adhere to the demands of the union and this resulted in the
References: Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. (2007). Ohio History Central. Retrieved from http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org › History › Organizations Workers ' Rights. (2007). The National Campaign to Restore Worker 's Rights. Retrieved from http://www.rollbackcampaign.org/issues/item.WORKERS_RIGHTS