Photo Gallery: Iowans rally for fair contract from Bridgestone-Firestone

On Thursday, approximately 250 people, members of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 310 and their supporters, marched over NW 2nd Street in a show of solidarity as the union engaged in contract negotiations with Bridgestone-Firestone. Local 310 represents almost 900 workers at the Des Moines Bridgestone-Firestone plant, which manufactures tires for agricultural equipment. The union’s existing contract with the company was set to expire at 11 p.m. on Thursday night, and members were preparing for the possibility of a strike.

The contract covered the more than 3,000 workers USW represents at the company’s six U.S. plants, located in Iowa, Illinois, Arkansas, Ohio and Tennessee. Union and company representatives were meeting in Lexington, Kentucky to negotiate a new contract.

The orange-shirted union members who marched in Des Moines said they were doing so in support of their demands for fair wages, better health insurance and other improvements. The march began at Local 310 headquarters and proceeded to the tire plants, where the marchers lined the street, holding signs bearing messages in both English and Spanish.

Union members pointed to the company’s increased profits as proof that it could meet their demands. The Bridgestone Group, the Japan-based parent company of Bridgestone-Firestone, reported a 5 percent increase in profits during the first quarter of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021, resulting in an operating profit of $634 million.

Gabriel Delacerda, a former forklift driver for Bridgestone-Firestone, said most of his family has worked for the company. Now some of them are experiencing mobility issues and other health concerns.

“They can’t be here so I am,” Delacerda said.

John Campbell, who recently retired after working at the plant for 32 years, spoke about the importance of rallying for rights as a way of preserving workers’ dignity.

“I did the dirtiest, nastiest jobs but I had dignity,” he said. “Every time they tried to strip me of it, I fought back.”

Contract talks dragged on throughout the day and into the night. Roughly 30 minutes after the contract lapsed, union negotiators announced they had reached a tentative agreement on a new contract with Bridgestone-Firestone, preventing a strike.

The tentative agreement will be submitted to USW members for review and an eventual up-or-down vote.

USW Local 310 building in Des Moines. -Lily DeTaeye/Little Village

Signs for the USW Local 310L rally on 7/28/2022. -Lily DeTaeye/ Little Village

Bridgestone-Firestone employee, Nate, says the union is “prepped to hit the street if need be.” -Lily DeTaeye/Little Village

Vice President of USW Local 310, Bill Campbell. -Lily DeTaeye/Little Village

Recording Secretary of USW Local 310 Bob Gullion and his son holding signs. -Lily DeTaeye/Little Village

Protestors prepare to march on July 28, 2022. -Lily DeTaeye/Little Village

Protestors march across NW 2nd St. in Des Moines July 28, 2022. -Lily DeTaeye/Little Village

Protestors march in front of Bridgestone-Firestone on July 28, 2022. -Lily DeTaeye/Little Village

Protestors march at Bridgestone-Firestone on July 28, 2022. -Lily DeTaeye/Little Village

Protesters hold signs in front of Bridgestone-Firestone on July 28, 2022. -Lily DeTaeye/ Little Village

Protestors march in front of Bridgestone-Firestone on July 28, 2022. -Lily DeTaeye/Little Village

Ankeny House District 42 Candidate Heather Matson and Ankeny Area Democrats Chair Mary McAdams hold signs. -Lily DeTaeye/Little Village

Protestors march in front of Bridgestone-Firestone on July 28, 2022. -Lily DeTaeye/Little Village

Protestors hold signs in front of Bridgestone-Firestone on July 28, 2022. -Lily DeTaeye/Little Village

Firestone “Now Hiring” signs. -Lily DeTaeye/Little Village

Bridgestone-Firestone building in Des Moines. -Lily DeTaeye/Little Village

Protestors hold sign in front of Bridgestone-Firestone on July 28, 2022. -Lily DeTaeye/Little Village

Protestors march in front of Bridgestone-Firestone on July 28, 2022. -Lily DeTaeye/Little Village

Protestors outside of Bridgestone-Firestone on July 28, 2022. -Lily DeTaeye/Little Village

AFSCME President Rick Eilander joins USW Local 310 as they rally for a fair contract from Bridgestone-Firestone in Des Moines, July 2022. Also photographed: Amy Russell and Melissa Speed. — Lily DeTaeye/Little Village