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News

Bridgestone Firestone Agrees To New Contract With The USW

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 4, 2007) – The negotiating team for Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC and Bridgestone Firestone Diversified Products has successfully concluded its talks with the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union ("USW") resulting in tentative agreements relating to certain of the companies’ union facilities in the United States. A tentative agreement has been signed for the Master contract with the USW, which covers the union teammates at tire production facilities in Akron, Ohio; Des Moines, Iowa; LaVergne, Tenn., as well as union teammates at the Firestone tube plant in Russellville, Ark., and the Firestone air spring plant in Noblesville, Ind. Tentative agreements have also been reached for the maintenance group located in the LaVergne, Tenn., tire plant and for the tire plant in Bloomington, Ill.  Regarding the Warren County, Tenn., tire plant and the separate agreement covering that facility, the talks have resulted in a framework for a new agreement, which will be presented to the Warren County membership for ratification.

It has been our goal throughout this process to achieve contracts that are in the best interests of both parties and allow our companies to participate successfully in a fiercely competitive global marketplace.  We believe these agreements are reflective of that goal. We now look forward to the union membership’s ratification vote, a process which will likely take several days.

About Bridgestone Firestone Diversified Products:
BFS Diversified Products, LLC, d/b/a Bridgestone Firestone Diversified Products, based in Carmel, Ind., is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc. (BSAH). BFDP is responsible for BSAH's non-tire businesses in the Americas, including the building and industrial products, synthetic and natural rubber, and fiber and textile businesses. BFDP’s businesses lead their industries in innovation and market share.

About Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC
Nashville-based Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's largest tire and rubber company.  BFNT develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires. The company is focused on wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off-road, motorcycle, agricultural and other tires to its customers in North America.