Cooper Contract Means Pay Raise for Workers

About 1,500 workers will receive pay raises after a contract renewal at a Texarkana plant.

According to a news release, United Steel Workers Local 752L has voted in favor of ratifying a new four-year labor agreement with Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. of Findlay, Ohio.

Workers hired before 2009 will have their salaries boosted by $1,200 for the first two years and $1,000 for the last two years. Those hired after 2009 will get $1,200 the first year, then a 20-cent-per-hour raise for the next three years.

The pay raises are the first since 2008, when the union implemented a salary freeze to keep the plant from closing. In November, Cooper locked out 1,000 union workers in Findlay for rejecting a tentative agreement. The Texarkana agreement was voted overwhelmingly in favor of, with 1,006 for and 141 against.

The release indicated Cooper was impressed with the union and has further plans for the facility.

"In addition to wage and benefit changes which will be implemented over the course of the four-year accord, the company plans additional investment in the plant, which was applauded by both salaried and hourly employees," it said.

Cooper has companies in 11 countries around the world.