Contact: Jess Kamm Broomell, jkamm@usw.org, 412-562-2444
Pittsburgh – The United Steelworkers (USW) union today condemned Sumitomo Tire’s decision to shutter its Tonawanda, N.Y., facility, costing 1,200 USW members their jobs.
USW District 4 Director Dave Wasiura, who represents workers in New York and eight other Northeastern states, expressed his deep disappointment in Sumitomo management and urged it to find a better solution than the abrupt closure.
“Our union has partnered with Sumitomo for years, helping to secure investments, as together we’ve navigated the ups and downs of the tire industry. That management went straight to enacting this extreme measure without coming to us is nothing short of a betrayal of its highly-skilled, dedicated workforce.”
Wasiura said the impacts of the decision will also ripple far beyond the plant itself.
“Sumitomo’s decision to wipe out these good, union jobs is devastating, not just for workers but for the entire community that they help support.”
Sumitomo management informed the union of its decision late Nov. 6 and will cease operations effective Nov. 11.
The USW represents 850,000 workers in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in health care, public sector, higher education, tech and service occupations.
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