Lawton tire plant cited in worker's death

April 1, 2009

Federal investigators have issued a citation against a Goodyear tire manufacturing facility in Lawton in the September death of a worker there.

Forty-five-year-old Steve Mason was critically injured Sept. 20 after being caught in a tire-building machine. He died three days later at a Lawton hospital.

After an initial probe, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration did not report any violations at the plant. But the federal agency returned for a follow-up investigation on March 20 and cited the facility for not properly protecting employees from hazards related to the machine.

A spokeswoman for Goodyear says the company plans to contest the alleged violation.

THAILAND WORKERS DEMONSTRATE AGAINST SALARY CUTS AND LAY-OFFS

Thai Press Reports, April 9, 2009

About 500 workers from three companies rallied at the Victory Monument on April 7 and blocked entrances to the Labour Ministry in a complaint about salary cuts and lay-offs, the Bangkok Post reports.

The workers, from tyre makers Michelin and Goodyear and metal pipe maker Canadoil Asia, said they would continue to block the ministry until they saw Labour Minister Paitoon Kaewthong.

They vowed to stay outside the ministry every night until National Labour Day, May 1, if not satisfied with the meeting with Mr Paitoon.

The employees made an appointment to meet the minister at 5pm. They demanded Mr Paitoon summon the owners of the three companies to talk to their representatives. The employees claimed they had talked to employer representatives and could not reach an agreement.

The Michelin staff said they were angry the firm had announced it would cut the pay of production staff by 13% and the wages of administration staff by 5%.

The Canadoil Asia staff demanded their firm reinstate 583 staff and pay them their unpaid wages since Mar 16.

The 160 Goodyear Co staff were outraged for being sacked without notice.