PRESIDENT VICE PRES. SECRETARY TREASURER FINANCIAL SECRETARY.
Harry Lageson
Willard Deigan
Floyd Murphy
Ray Brown
Raleigh Owen
Neal Brown
Gilbert Laws
Lloyd Worley
Donald Wright
Jared Teichmeier
Hugh Bowen*
Fred Rohiff
Marland Chandler
Jack Mertes
Neal Brown
Willard Deigan
Raleigh Owen
Robert Ellis
John Young
Lloyd Worley
Robert Wallen
Donald Wright
Lee Domeier
Hugh Bowen
John Shotkoski
Gary Schaefer*
Ruth Haviland
Anna Ferguson
Emma Cappen
Doris Rule
Carl Hartman
Bertha Badberg
Lucille Wright
William Jacobs
Cleo Carson
Evelyn Smith
Laura Lee
Charles Tisdale
Walt Anderson
Burdette Cooley
Sally Edwards
Judy Joslin
John Dove*
Carl Dill
John Hutchinson
Robert Bjerrum
Harry Lageson
Jim Price
Emanuel Schmidt
Robert Maxwell
Emma Cappen
Mabel Edmiston
Lawrence Kistler
Lowell Jackson
Cleo Carson
Ronald Kinney
Ruth Eskew
Ruth Schlieger
Laura Lee
Edith Fynbu
Ucinda Sims
Mo Anker
Patsy Hildreth* Andy Grow
Mike Runyan
Mick Vercellino*
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Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Lincoln Plant
PLANT MANAGERS PRODUCTION MANAGERS INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS MANAGERS AIRPARK/GDC MANAGERS
Walter Rudder
Fred Shaw
Richard Jay
Ben Stephens
Dan Remigio
Clay Orme
Ron Danals
Stan Patzel
Bob Becker
Bob Ekiss
Todd Turner
Dan Granatowicz*
Joe Cypher
Ted Cox
Jerry Wolfe
Stan Patzel
Fred Bailey
Bob Becker
Dennis Sutton
Gene Cerny
Ernie Schlichtemeier
Larry Spilker
John McMorris
Stash Robleski
Don Murray
Paul Ess
Jim Moyer
Bob Horn
Bob Lyndsey
Don Schoer
John Herrod
Ray Ortega
Bob Rock
Bob Becker
Stan Patzel
Steve Wiedner
PENSION AND INSURANCE PLANT DOCTOR GOODYEAR REC & FITNESS CENTER ENGINEERING MANAGERS Albert Beam
Jayne Smith
Mickey Fleming
Sally Edwards*
Robert Hillyer
Chester Paul
Lonnie Albers*
Tom Velder
Bud Kissel
Dave Galance
R. Dingledine
Gene Mercer return to top
We were given the task of compiling records, publications and memories into an account of the past that will revive the memories of those of you who remember when, as well as explain what happened then and now to those of you who are just beginning your time here at Goodyear and as a member of Local 286.
The three of us who have produced this publication have seniority that spans from 27 years to 5 years. Combining three different perspectives will hopefully make this much more interesting.
While interviewing the retirees who participated we noticed the differences in how people remember things, as well as the common threads that run throughout the entire story. It was interesting to hear how disputes were handled in the late 40's; it was not unusual to have everyone just walk out, to return the next day. An interview with past union presidents, vice presidents, a retired plant manager and a retired industrial relations manager was very enlightening. While the records show a history of adversarial relationships, the real story is one of trust and working together. Well, maybe not all the time.
Visits with the Retirees Club of Local 286 revealed the social atmosphere that was created within the Goodyear and Union family. Now club activities give current retirees a little of that atmosphere back to them again.
It would be impossible to mention and thank everyone who has contributed, mostly because every last one of you has contributed in one way or another. Many retirees shared their stories and pictures with us. The pictures presented here are just a small portion of the pictures provided by many of you. Thank you to everyone who gave us pictures to use.
Interviews were given by Ted Milburn, Frank Voboril, Jim Tichota, Howard Ramel, Paul Ess, Don Wright, Gib Laws, Dan Remigio, Lee Domeier, Earl Hatfield, Dee Bartlett, and many members of the URW Local 286 Retirees Club.
We would like to say a special thank you to Kori Reed who provided us with pictures and records as well as putting together the front cover of this publication. These were very enlightening. They contain baby pictures of current employees as well as graduation photos of a lot of us. Many current and active employees and members are from a long line of Goodyearites. The grandson of the first full time president of the URW Local 286 works in the plant. His father just retired. Many mothers, fathers, grandparents, sons and daughters make up the roster of members from the beginning. Their bloodlines run through and through, from Union presidents to plant managers.
We would also like to acknowledge Melanie Koci for designing the artwork on the cover.
We wish to thank Dan Remigio and Gib Laws for there extraordinary help and insight into the past 50 years. Their dedication to their positions back then shows even now with their collection of photos and artifacts.
Above all else, we would like to thank everyone for the opportunity that was given us. The joy and amazement of our story has been a gift to all three of us. In the future it will not be the hours and hours of research done by Edith, or the rush of this last week mixed with the anxiety of getting everything just right. No, what we will remember will be memories of all of you that you so graciously shared with us. What we will remember will be the courage of the first union members and management and the dedication of those that would follow. We will remember the support we received from the current officers of URW Local 286 and the current management of the Lincoln plant for the hours we have spent on this project. And we will remember the support of our husbands and families for those same hours spent. Thank you, all of you.
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Ucinda Sims Editor Bonnie Shore Assistant Edith Fynbu Historian
- Introduction
- 1945 - 1946 - 1948 - 1949 -1950 - 1952 - 1953 - 1955 - 1956
- 1957 - 1958 - 1959 - 1960 - 1961 - 1962 - 1963 - 1964 - 1965
- 1966 - 1967 - 1968 - 1969 - 1970 - 1971 - 1972
- 1973 - 1974 - 1975 - 1976 - 1977 - 1978 - 1979 - 1980 - 1981
- 1982 - 1983 - 1984 - 1985 - 1986 - 1987 - 1988 - 1989
- 1990 - 1991 - 1992 - 1993 - 1994 - 1995
- In Conclusion
Introduction During the crucial middle war years of World War II, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company began looking for an abandoned factory somewhere in the U.S. Goodyears' existing facilities at that time were not sufficient to produce enough bullet seal fuel tanks, the company's chief war-time project, to meet the production of combat planes then being turned out. In Lincoln, Goodyear found the factory site it need. Remodeling of the factory was begun in December of 1943 and the first fuel tank was built in February of 1944. A short time later, the Lincoln plant hit a peak production of 125 tanks a day, which was maintained throughout the remaining war years. This is where the history of the last fifty years of growth and progress of the United Rubber Workers, Local 286 and the Lincoln Goodyear Industrial Products Plant begins.
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1945-1946 On January 1st,1945, eighteen people signed the Charter Application. Forwarded with the application was per capita tax total of $69.30 for 154 members and a charter fee of $10.00 for a total of $79.30. Female workers started at 45 cents per hour, men started at 60 cents per hour and both were given automatic increases until they reached 80 cents per hour. The plant worked three shifts, six days a week. The affiliation of the URW was with the CIO. This charter application was the result of an NLRB election held on August 29, 1944 during which the AFL, who had indicated interest, was beaten. Franklin Roosevelt, President of the United States, died and Harry Truman became President. L.S. Buckmaster was the International URW President, Harry Lageson was President of Local 286 and Walter Rudder was the Lincoln Plant Manager. The first agreement was reached the 26th of April,1945. The agreement was reached with the understanding that it included certified disputes. There were a total of eleven disputed items including check off, overtime pay, vacation pay and wage increases. The plant was released by the government in August of 1945 Goodyear, who up to that point were just"renting", decided to buy the former Patriot Truck facility and produce peacetime products. The plant was closed for retooling for postwar production of belts and hoses. The first vbelt was produced in May of 1946 on machinery that had been brought in from other rubber products plants. The women who had so diligently worked during the war were slow in being called back since the boys had come home and the jobs were being given to them. The first company picnic was held. Life was slowly returning to normal. 1947 The URW had negotiated its first company wide agreement with United States Rubber (Uniroyal) but here in Lincoln the AFL had stepped back in as the bargaining agent for Local 286, The AFL Local number was Local 23697. When the plant had officially reopened the AFL, taking advantage of the skilled trades majority, had won the NLRB election. Labor history shows that the AFL was the union of choice among skilled tradesmen. During this year the Union had two presidents, Willard Deigan and Seth Beam. The union did little that year and the AFL is credited with only gaining a few paid holidays. Meanwhile, Goodyear had made Fred Shaw the plant manager. The records show that during the time Shaw was in charge he recognized the importance of communication and the first WINGFOOT CLAN was published. The Clan, as it was known, carried information to everyone that ranged from editorials to industry wide news to Union news.
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1948 By the next election in January of 1948, the ratio of skilled tradesmen to production had changed enough for the CIO to win the right to represent the URW members here once again. It remained the elected bargaining agent for this Local 286 until the merger of the AFL and the CIO. Local 286 is affiliated with the AFLCIO even now. Once again eighteen people signed the reinstatement Charter application. This reinstatement Charter was completed, unlike the first application which was not finished due to the shutdown and changeover of the plant, and hangs in the Presidents office at the Union Hall. Floyd Murphy was elected the President of Local 286 and Richard Jay is appointed Plant Manager. A full set of officers was elected. The new Vice President was Jack Mertes, the Secretary was Anna Ferguson and the Treasurer was Emanual Schmidt. The first ever set of meeting minutes are recorded and that record book is also kept at the Union Hall today. Not much has changed since them when it comes to procedures and business handled at the membership meetings. Votes were conducted for delegates to events such as District Council Meetings and Conventions. A new agreement includes and 11 cent per hour increase and three weeks of vacation after 15 years of service. 1948 is the year the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company celebrated its 50th anniversary.
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1949-1950 Ray Brown is the President of Local 286 during this time and Neal Brown is Vice President. No one knew at this time that the unions' Vice President would someday play a significant role in the history of this local. In the meantime, a new contract is being negotiated. The new agreement provided for the first pension plan which consisted of 1 % total earnings or $100 minimum. The agreement also included a 12 cent per hour pay increase and the company agreed to assume full cost of an improved insurance plan. Dues were raised to $2.00 and membership meetings were being held at a rented hall on Havelock Avenue. There were 500 members. 1951 Gift packages were sent to the more than 20 Goodyearites in uniform. Goodyear plants across the nation were doing this for their soldiers. The company was offering work on Saturdays for time and a half, but only if you agreed to donate it to the Community Chest. Safety had become an important national issue and Goodyear Lincoln was awarded the first ever Nebraska Accident Prevention Flag from the Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. A ten day strike resulted in a 13 cent per hour pay increase and triple time for holidays. Raleigh Owen was the President of Local 286.
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1952 This years agreement gets everyone a 10 cent per hour increase. Membership meetings are now being held at the new location at 6127 Havelock Avenue. The union officers realize the need for their own communication tool and the first issue of the SPOTLIGHT is published. The editor was Carl Hartman. He had two assistants and the first issue was a small mimeographed newsletter. Meanwhile, the company has a clubhouse built for its employees and the Goodyear Lake is started.
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1953 The SPOTLIGHT has become a large four page edition being professionally printed on enameled paper by the NEBRASKA FARMER. The cost was $67.95 for 600 copies. As you have probably noticed, agreements are negotiated yearly at this time and this years agreement included a four and one half cent increase in pay and the first pension plan which is based on years of service. The plan paid $1.50 per year of service not to exceed 30 years or age 68. Two weeks vacation after three years of service was added. Goodyear awarded its first ten year service pin. 1954 This was the year of the first signifigant strike for Local 286. The strike began in July. By now Goodyear Lincoln and Local 286 were a part of company-wide bargaining. The company offer was for an increase of five cents per hour. On the International level, this was the year the International Strike Fund was established. By this time the Clan had become a central part of the Goodyear family life. Besides the national industry news, plant information and updates, it also contained all the Goodyear social news. Like any small time paper, it was not unusual to see a headline like"3 Accidents in September; Plant Record Now Worst in History" right beside an article that announced tenancy Young Weds Paul Ess". Departmental columns were filled with congratulations on new baby's and weekend guest lists at someone's home. It was no surprise that the Clan was used as first line defense by the company during the strike. The Special Edition of the Clan on July 14th carried a personal message from the President of Goodyear, E.J. Thomas, begging the people to come back to work. The rest of the message reminded people that the Union was on strike, not the company, and the gates were open. Fifty three days later the strike was over and everyone returned to work with a six cent pay increase. A small group of people, led by Neal Brown and Robert Ellis, as well as several others, had crossed the picket line and become scabs. Their tactics left a lot to be desired, passing a letter that insisted that it would be all right for these people to go back to work. A vote was held after the strike was over and these scabs were ousted from the union.(lt is important to note that at a later date, these people were accepted back into the union.)
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1955 With production back on track, B.M. Stephens is named as Plant Manager. A Quality Control Division is created. This years agreement comes off without a hitch and results in a 12 cent per hour pay increase, a seventh paid holiday, jury duty pay and insurance benefits for retirees. The Union officers launch a membership drive and a PAC (COPE) drive.
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1956 Local 286 loses a union pioneer this year with the death of Bertha Badberg. Her tireless work, contribution and dedication to the humble beginnings and struggles of this local are remembered in an edition of the SPOTLIGHT that is dedicated to her memory. The Goodyear Employees Credit Union is established and this years agreement is equally progressive. Six point two cents per hour increase in pay heads the list of changes, not only in the agreement, but reflects the change beginning in the way people work. The agreement put three cents into SUB, gives three weeks vacation for eleven years of service, addresses seniority, the grievance procedure, overtime pay, increases shift pay, includes a statement of equal pay for equal work and paid funeral leave.
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1957 While the AFL-CIO is furiously working to get full medical coverage for retirees through the Social Security laws, Local 286 changes addresses again. The new office is located at 4333 No. 61st. This years agreement gets a 15 cent increase in pay. This raises the average pay in the plant to $2.54 1/2 per hour. Raleigh Owen is still the Union President and Lloyd Worley is the Vice President.
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1958 The plant gets a new oil storage tank that holds 150,000 gallons. The Clan picks up and publishes the national cry for purchasing savings bonds. This years agreement gives an eight cent pay increase as well as several other improvements. The union membership votes to have a full time president. A three month trial is held and the end result is a full time president. Raleigh Owen is that first full time president.
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1959 This years agreement nets a pay increase of ten cents per hour, pensions are increased to $2.50 per month per year of service and there are some improvements to insurance. The single most signifigant appointment for Goodyear Lincoln occurs in 1959. Dan Remigio is named Plant Manager. His appointment begins his career as the Lincoln Plant Manager, a career that will span an unprecedented 25 years, a stay that is unheard of anymore. The stability he created at Goodyear Lincoln is responsible for many of the prosperous years that followed.
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1960-1961 This time found the plant ready to begin their second phase of the total plant expansion plan which began in 1950. This phase is to take place over the next five years and begins with a ground breaking in May of 61. Dan Remigio,
Plant Manager, announced that this expansion to the west could mean up to an additional 200 jobs. The agreements reached during these years increase the pay per hour by a total of thirteen cents, adds an eighth paid holiday and changed vacation requirements once again.
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1962-1963 A receiving and raw material warehouse is added to the plant. Down the street Goodyear employees were enjoying a new Credit Union. Agreements during these two years netted a total pay increase of ten and a half cents per hour and still more improvements in vacations. On November 25th, 1963, under a direct order from Akron, Dan Remigio ordered third and first shifts to be scheduled out. The result of this action was both shifts having to work Saturday for straight time. The Union President, Gib Laws, reported in the SPOTLIGHT that 'We feel that the unilateral action taken by the company was a violation of the contract but the reasons behind their actions were of such great magnitude and retrospective of the situation, that a grievance at this time would be in bad taste and not the wishes of the membership." President Kennedy had been assassinated. The fall of 1963 also marked the purchase of land at 46th and Y Street by the Lincoln Central Labor Union for the building of a new labor temple. The CLU depended upon the support and participation of Local unions such as ours.
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1964-1965 Lincoln Goodyear Plant holds a plant wide housekeeping contest. The very first winner of the monthly traveling trophy was Area 7. We know that are today as Curved Hose Cure. Goodyear wins a trademark battle involving the Wingfoot. Goodyear also constructs a new seventy foot sign that is visible to Cornhusker Highway. The agreements these years add a total increase of thirteen cents per hour of pay and a ninth paid holiday.
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1966-1967 The Goodyear Spirit Award is established.The winner will be chosen from all of Goodyear and will be judged on their ability for typifying the Goodyear spirit of integrity, zeal, loyalty and human understanding. The fourth expansion in five years begins with plans for a future banbury. Local 286 President Gib Laws resigns to take position as an International Field staff member. Lloyd Worley becomes the new president. The 1967 agreement is signed and is in effect for the next three years. For the first time in history the contract covering wages and working conditions is negotiated at the same time as the Pension and Insurance agreement. 1967 is also the first year personal statements of annual wages and benefits are distributed. Goodyear announces a new multi-million tire building facility in Union City, Tennessee. It will be Goodyears' 100th facility world-wide. Here at home banbury operations begin on April 17, 1967.
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1968-1969 Although it sounded like one, it was not a bomb. What it was, on June 6th, 1968, was the hose heater door blowing off. The force of the explosion hurled the one-ton door in excess of 120 feet and drove the heater back through the wall. Two workers were injured, but both sets of injuries were minor. Outdoors, in order to initiate another expansion program, the employees clubhouse was razed. The new areas will be lab areas and more warehouse space. The plantwide collection for COPE totaled $500. In 1969 the Lincoln plant is named the cleanest, most orderly plant in the Industrial Products Division. The officers and members of Local 286 take action to purchase the former Garner Tool and Die building at 5724 Seward. We own our Union Hall. Volunteers help paint and get into order for use.
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1970-1971 Local 286, under the direction of President Lloyd Worley, makes the decision to have a full time Vice President as well as the President. Bob Wallen is the first full time Vice President.
The Union Hall parking lot is black topped. In Washington, President Richard Nixon signs OSHA. In conjunction with that signing, the first joint Occupational Safety and Health program is started at the Lincoln plant. Local 286 members participate in a strike from April 20th, 1970 through June 10th, 1970. The agreement won at this time includes a pay increase of eighty two cents over the three years of the agreement, improved pension plan, the tenth paid holiday, vacation improvements and other benefits. In 1971, the plant celebrates 25 years. Their record keeping differs slightly from ours in that they do not recognize, on paper, the time the plant was not in operation for the post war changeover to belt and hose production. They have now been persuaded to celebrate 50 years growth and association with the URW along with us this year in 1995.
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1972 The Spirit Award Program is expanded to the current format of individual plant winners who go on to compete for divisional titles from which a world-wide winner is chosen. The first Lincoln Plant Spirit Award winner is Al Ensminger. Anna Ferguson, an original signer of the reinstatement charter application, retires. She is still living in Lincoln today. In response to an increasing need for hose capacity, Goodyear leases 100,00 square feet of warehouse space at Airpark. Originally used as hangars for B47 bombers, this available space at the Lincoln Airpark had been vacated in 1965 when the Lincoln Airforce Base was deactivated. Goodyear introduces the Serpentine Poly-V belt.
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1973-1974-1975 The three year agreement reached in 1973 includes an eighty cent pay per hour increase over the life of the agreement as well as improved pension and insurance benefits. There is no existing documentation, but members remember a One shift strike in an effort to reach this agreement. In 1974 Goodyear expands the warehouse facilities at Airpark to include two hangars.
They also expand the receiving warehouse at the main plant. Gib Laws is President of Local 286 and Don Wright is Vice President. In 1975, Gib Laws announces his candidacy for International President. The need for a full time representative to handle Pension and Insurance benefits is recognized. Al Beam is appointed as the first P & I representative. Gib Laws candidacy is unsuccessful, but hindsight now shows us that this may have been fate. The members of Local 286, although unaware at the time, needed him here.
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1976 Being a contract year, negotiations were in progress with Goodyear, Firestone, Goodrich, and Uniroyal. On Tuesday, April 20th, those talks broke off, idling 22,000 American workers. This strike was to last four months. Members were devastated by the loss of income and the company also suffered from the loss of production. Two things enhance the memory of this strike. First, because it was nineteen years ago, the majority of our members today participated in this strike. Their memories seem to be as vivid today as then. Secondly, the union won a major victory in the resulting agreement with what has been labeled "the best COLA agreement in U.S. history." The agreement included the formula for figuring a Cost of Living adjustment to be adjusted quarterly. It also included signifigant improvements in pension and insurance benefits. The fall of 1976 was spent returning to normalcy as well as returning to a previously discussed remodeling project of the Local 286 Union Hall. This project had been put on hold during the strike. The back room became additional storage area, additional meeting area and a conference room. Jim Tichota, another member who had signed the reinstatement charter application and Raleigh Owen, past Union President retired in 1976.
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1977, 1978 & 1979 With the recent remodeling of the Union Hall, increased space provided storage, additional meeting area and a conference room. A company committee dedicated their time to creating an engineered products manual. In 1978 the Goodyear chain grew by one with the addition of the Norfolk plant. Now there were two Goodyear Industrial products manufacturers in Nebraska. The Lincoln plant, meanwhile, had received the Goodyear Worldwide Safety Award and a joint committee consisting of both management and production personnel started work on planning the remodeling of the cafeteria. John 'Pete' Maul, one of the original reinstatement charter application signers, retires. He resides in Lincoln still today. Dan Remigio is recognized by the local media as one of the founding fathers of Junior Achievement as well as the Chairman of the United Way campaign and a champion of their cause. In 1980 an agreement was negotiated with Delta Dental, and by taking monies out of our COLA payments, the members of Local 286 had dental insurance for the first time.
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1980 - 1981 Records indicate that it was about this time that the last monthly or weekly issue of the Wingfoot Clan was published. Following a national trend of Corporate silence, when transference of as little information as possible is the way to do business, the beloved plant communication link is silenced. In the years that followed, the Clan will surface only when there is a graduate issue. Outside, the company has decided that it is time to replace the Goodyear Lake that had been where the parking lot was now. Digging began on another, smaller lake. This pond would become a permanent fixture and would see a lot of fishing contests and spectators over the years. Early in 1981 a young man who worked in Positive Drive, became convinced that many of the people who worked in the plant were repressing certain athletic skills and it was time to do something about it. He became a member of a committee whose first business was the enhancement of the backlog which at that time was simply known as the Goodyear ballfield. Although not the chair or leader of record, Tom Velder soon showed not only his dedication and enthusiasm, but his leadership skills as well. in the pursuit of his dream he led the joint committee through a complete overhaul of the play area. In the fall of the same year the Goodyear Rec Center on Logan Street was a reality. Starting out simple, the two combined areas provided not only a gym for employees to work out in and play basketball in, but the backlot was alive in the summertime with softball for everyone. Today that Rec Center sponsors softball leagues, basketball leagues, golf leagues and has state-of-the-art exercise equipment and work out areas. The director of the Goodyear Rec Center is Tom Velder.
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1982-1983 The URW Local 286 members held their first ever Golf Playday/Tournament in 1982. It was such a success that not only was it continued every year, but in 1983 they sponsored their first Softball tournament . At the plant, workers entering either entrance of the building were now greeted with new safety record signs. The signs advertised the number of days since a lost time accident and were equipped with re flashing lights that were lit for 24 hours after any lost time accident. It was decided that positive reinforcement was a necessary change in the existing attendance program. As an encouragement to continue good attendance habits, drawings were held quarterly among people with perfect attendance for restaurant gift certificates. If you continued with perfect attendance for six months, you were invited to participate in a drawing for savings bonds.
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1984-1985 Goodyear Cookbooks were sold by the Rec Center. Gathered and put together by the Goodyear Recipe Committee, the book contained favorite recipes of Goodyearites. The book was dedicated to Dan Remigio and the first recipe in the book was for his favorite Italian Spaghetti Sauce. He decided to spend a little more free time honing his cooking skills. Dan retired from Goodyear during 1984. Clay Orme was appointed Plant Manager.
Goodyear Lincoln commits to a multi-million dollar modernization program. This commitment was part of an agreement with Local 286 that resulted in frozen COLA benefits and a list of jobs which now paid less per hour. Goodyear also made an agreement with Browning and began the manufacturing of their ~~Private Label". The new agreement at this time provided a forty three cent wage increase over the three years of the contract. The URW International celebrated its 50th year anniversary. The four top officers of Local 286 were in attendance at that celebration.
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1986-1987 Ron Danals is appointed Plant Manager replacing Clay Orme. Gib Laws is not only elected to the URW International Executive Board, but here at home he is nominated for the Goodyear Spirit Award. He is selected for the Lincoln Spirit Award and goes on to win the divisional award as well. A short time later it is announced that he has been selected as the Worldwide Goodyear Spirit Award winner. He still holds the distinction of being the only Lincoln winner to progress to Worldwide winner. Local 286 spends time and energy on an organizing campaign for ISCO here in northeast Lincoln. This campaign is unsuccessful, but serves to make our own members a little more thankful for all our union benefits. The plant is trying to adjust to a 12 hour shift schedule in some areas and makes a deal with Bridgestone Company to make its belts.1986 will be the year remembered for the Goldsmith takeover attempt. Although unsuccessful, it would be many years before the resulting cost to Goodyear would be put to rest and not be a factor in everything we do. There were times when the mark made on Goodyear by Sir Goldsmith would never go away. Local 286 purchases billboards strategically placed around town that promote "Buy American Products". On the national level, the AFL-CIO announces the creation of a new program called Union Privilege which offers free or reduced rate services to people who are union members.Frank Voboril retires in 1987. One of the original reinstatement charter application signers, he is still enjoying his retirement today here in Lincoln.
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1988-1989 This is the year that Local 286 changes the Union Picnic to Labor Day. In March of 1988 the Goodyear Daycare facility opens for business. It is housed in the Goodyear Rec Center. 1988 is the first year that the plant hires Summer Vacation Replacements from the pool of college enrolled employees children only. Prior to this year the jobs were offered to University football or basketball players as well. Stan Patzel replaces Ron Danals as Plant Manager. Over at the Union Hall Al Beam, Pension and Insurance Representative, and Gib Laws, President of Local 286 both decide to retire. Al Beam is replaced by Sally Edwards. Current Vice President, Don Wright becomes President and Lee Doemeier is appointed Vice President. With the retirement of these two great Union activists it seems only fitting that in the same year Goodyear decides to take down the concrete smokestack behind the plant. A landmark is gone. 1989 is the first year that Workers Memorial Day is observed in memory of nationwide workers who have lost their lives while working. Don Wright retires from Goodyear and as President of Local 286. Jared Teichmeier is elected President, Hugh Brown-Vice President. Sally Edwards-Secretary, and Edith Fynbu- Treasurer are both reselected. The Goodyear management present a plan to restructure the Airpark facilities. That plan includes a drastic payout and a threat to dismantle the warehouse facilities if the plan is not approved. That decision was reported to be responsible for the loss of 400 jobs if not approved. The first vote that was held came out with the majority of the members voting against the Airpark plan. Early the next year a second vote came out with the majority of the votes being cast for the agreement. The right or wrong of that decision will most likely be debated without resolve for as long as there is the ability to debate.
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1990-1991 As if the turmoil among the membership is not burden enough, another area of the world is also in turmoil. With the United States involvement in the Gulf War, the reverberations of that war are felt right here at home. Several members are called to serve as replacements on home bases and many members worry day and night about the involvement of family members and friends. Local 286 sends pens to all the soldiers as well as collecting money to purchase sports equipment for the troops. The Community Services Committee is responsible for the adoption of a stretch of Highway 6 just northeast of Lincoln. Cleanups are scheduled for twice a year and everyone is invited to participate. With the changes in the wages at the warehouse, Local 286 request a reduced union dues structure for those members through the International executive board. That request is approved and for the first time Local 286 has a two tier dues structure. The charter application for the Local 286 Retirees club is accepted. Started by a few dedicated retirees, the club benefits include monthly meetings, social events and dinners, tours, mailed monthly copies of the Spotlight and good old fashioned fun. Representatives are chosen for many of the events that Local 286 sends delegates to and the club maintains an up to date mailing list of retiree club members and a full compliment of officers are elected yearly.
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1992-1993 This is the year that the Lincoln Goodyear plant and Local 286 step through to the future and really begin to talk about working together. Management at the Lincoln plant admit, although somewhat begrudgingly, that they cannot run the plant alone. In looking back at the history, it is filled with successful projects and ventures and everyone has one single common denominator; those that worked involved the input of both union and management. Experts are brought in to talk to leaders of both management and union. After weeks of working on a plan, the first decision is to choose a bargaining unit member to be a full time facilitator. After a very structured search, the job was given to Rich Nelson. Meanwhile, joint activities fall into place without much difficulty. The first semi-annual food drive is held with collection points being placed directly at the front parking lot gates. A joint committee plan and hold a Car and Hobby show in late summer. The buzz word around the plant is ISO 9000, with the promise of more information later. Early 1993 finds the Joint Steering committee deciding that it is time for a second facilitator to aid in the continuance and the growth of what is now known as Joint Process. That second position is given to Kim Cuba. Along with the entire nation, Goodyear Lincoln finds it necessary to deal with workplace issues such as sexual harassment due mostly to the national attention this issue has received and the changing face of the workplace. Havelock celebrates their centennial and both the Lincoln Plant and Local 286 become involved in the celebration plans. The Nebraska State AFL - CIO announces the formation of a Labor Hall of Fame and requests nominations from local unions. Local 286 nominates both Al Beam and Bob Wallen and both are inducted. The Hall of Fame is housed at the state headquarters in Omaha. In Washington, our elected representatives are on the brink of voting into law a little thing called NAFTA. Union members everywhere are brought together in a common cause to say "Not This NAFTA".
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1994 Negotiations with the Rubber companies covered by the Master Agreement deteriorate quickly after Goodyear reaches an agreement with the URW. Uniroyal/Goodrich is the only other company to also settle. The other companies including Armstrong/Pirelli and Bridgestone/ Firestone refuse to follow with pattern bargaining and thousands of rubber workers go out on strike in June. The delay and disagreements with the Goodyear agreement seem minor compared to the issues at these other companies. This strike is quickly dubbed the War of 94. Those of us who escape with an acceptable agreement band together to keep the strikers going with food, monies and morale support. Local 286 starts a series of weekly strike collections and before a special convention is called in early 95 for the purpose of a dues assessment to beef up the depleted strike fund, the members of 286 had donated approximately $100,000 dollars of their own money in an extraordinary show of solidarity and support. Those donations included a special collection of $8,000 to sponsor a childrens Christmas party for the members in Des Moines, Iowa. Now, in 1995, that battle still continues. Here at home, Bob Becker is named as Plant Manager, replacing Stan Patzel, who becomes the Manager of the Airpark facilities, now a warehouse facility that is a Global Distribution Center, warehousing many Goodyear products including those produced here at the Lincoln Plant and five other plants. The previous manager of the facility was Bob Becker.
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1995 As the year begins, preparations for the year long 50th anniversary celebration goes into full swing. The monthly editions of the Spotlight will carry history information and January's edition is a Special Edition with a full picture spread and history highlight front page article. Existing committees take on the additional tasks of different celebrations. Commemorative pens, lapel pins and travel coffee mugs are ordered and distribution of these gifts is in full swing. Also being prepared for is the 1995 District 4 Council Meeting which will be held in Lincoln this year. This event is also being held here in celebration of our anniversary. The Goodyear Lincoln plant agreed to celebrate their 50th year also, since it is their 50th year of the relationship with the URW and Local 286. The decision is made to produce this commemorative publication in celebration of this 50 year old relationship as well as the anniversary of our original charter application. While preparations go on busily at the Union Hall, the work of producing quality belts and hoses continues. The Joint Process Steering Committee has disbanded and been replaced with the Strategic Alliance Committee. 'Joint Process' has evolved into a more subtle, less structured, joining together of ideas and hard work. Some areas of the plant have excelled while other areas are still too busy fighting the daily battle of just staying afloat. Change is slow, but a lot of people still refuse to give up. Working together is a learning process for both sides. In the midst of all the changes and preparations, the URW International Union officers announce that a deal has been made for the URW to merge with the United Steel Workers of America(USWA). A special convention is called for June 30th in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There delegates representing all members of the URW will vote and the results of that vote will decide if there will be another 50 years of the URW and Local 286. Or will the vote decide that 1995 will be the start of whole new story beginning with?
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"USWA Local 286 was chartered in 1945 ". IN CONCLUSION As we go to publication with this account of history, a decision has not been reached on the possible merger with the United Steel Workers. A decision has also not been reached on the future of the production of curved radiator hose at the Lincoln plant. And, like the men and women who began this slice of history in 1945, we the current active members of Local 286 and the management and staff of the Goodyear Lincoln plant, as well as all the retirees of both neither know nor can predict how the next 50 years will turn out. We can only hope that we possess the same dedication and determination that those who have been here before us exhibited. We hope that this recount of history is as accurate as records will allow and accomplishes both of our goals to rekindle some of those memories you all have and to bring some understanding of the struggle that is our history to those of you just beginning your time here.
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