WASHINGTON, D.C.—Following the news that Cooper Tire workers in Texarkana were able to reach an agreement for a new contract with company management, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) again urged the company management and Cooper Tire workers in Findlay to work together to reach an agreement that would return the more than 1,000 locked-out workers to the production line.  Brown visited with workers in early January 2012; in November, following a phone call made to Cooper Tire and Rubber Company CEO Roy Armes, Brown urged the company to work with employees to reach a resolution.

“The workers at Cooper Tire have been locked out for nearly three months. I am urging both the union and management to work together in earnest to reach an agreement so as to limit the economic harm to the workers, to Cooper Tire, and to the greater Findlay community,” Brown said. “I am optimistic that the recently-announced agreement between management and workers in Texarkana can serve as proof that compromise from both sides can lead to a successful resolution. I stand ready to provide any possible assistance to either the workers or to Cooper Tire management that will help further an agreement that brings these hard-working men and women back to the production line.”

In June 2009, Brown testified before the ITC in support of rubber tire workers in Findlay who were being undermined a flood of Chinese imports dumped into the U.S. Following his testimony, the ITC ruled on behalf of tire workers, and President Obama announced that he would enforce "Section 421" trade safeguards that protect American manufacturers from excessive imports. After the ruling, Cooper Tire & Rubber Company announced plans to add capacity to its Findlay tire plant; Brown visited with Cooper Tire workers last summer to celebrate the expansion.

The letter to Cooper Tire can be seen here and the letter to the United Steelworkers can be seen here.

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