By Doug Cunningham

Continental Tire is laying off 400 workers today at its Charlotte, North Carolina plant as it shifts production to Brazil and Mexico. United Steelworkers union spokesman Wayne Ranick says the National Labor Relations Board has issued charges that Continental’s production shift is illegal. Ranick says this is one possible outcome of the NLRB action.

[Wayne Ranick]: “Having to reinstate employees laid off, having to resume production and also perhaps having to reimburse employees for lost wages and benefits.”

As USW negotiates for new national contracts with tire makers it has targeted BR Goodrich/Michelin in an effort to reach a pattern agreement.