It will spend US$12m on the plant in the next five years, and will hire 50 new staff.
“We are expanding our capacity to meet our customers’ requirements now and in the future,” said Shawn Rasey, vice president, Bridgestone Firestone Off Road Tire Company, a division of Bridgestone Firestone North American Tyre. “With the strong global demand for off road tires, it’s clear that our customers can rely on our proven technology and products for all of their needs.”
Hourly union staff at the Bloomington facility recently approved a labour contract extension through 2012. The agreement between BFNT and Local 787 of the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (“USW”) covers 300 staff at the plant, which makes large heavy-duty off road tires for construction and mining applications.
Under the agreement, Bloomington teammates will receive the same wage and benefit provisions contained in a contract that covers other BFNT locations and have agreed to a no-strike clause during the entire term of the extension. Bridgestone Firestone operates under four separate union contracts.
