FINDLAY, Ohio (AP) -- Members of a United Steelworkers local in Ohio have voted overwhelmingly to approve a three-year contract with Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. that a union official said includes major concessions by workers anxious to keep their jobs.
During two days of balloting that ended Monday night, members of Local 207L voted 648 to 264 to approve the contract, the union said. The contract extends through Oct. 31, 2011.
The agreement includes wage and benefit concessions valued at $30 million over the term of the contract, said Rod Nelson, president of the Steelworkers local in Findlay. He provided no details.
"This was a vote by people for their jobs, not for what's in the package," he said.
Patricia J. Brown, spokeswoman for Cooper Tire & Rubber, would not provide details. She cited a study being done by the company that could result in the closing of a plant.
Cooper Tire & Rubber has said sales of replacement tires are forecast to decline slightly and that it is under cost pressures. It is considering closing one of its U.S. plants.
Arkansas and Texas are working on an incentive package to persuade the company to keep open its tire plant in Texarkana. Mississippi officials are proposing to give Cooper Tire $30 million in financial incentives to also keep the company's Tupelo plant open.
Shares rose 3 cents to $5.41 in morning trading.
