This is the correspondence I have written to Mayor Fusco of Akron. The home of Goodyear’s Tires.26/08/2015
Mayor Jeff Fusco
City of Akron
Ohio
Dear Mayor Fusco
I am writing to you with regard the closure of the Goodyear plant here in our City of Wolverhampton UK.
In Akron I noticed that Goodyear is seen to be a major employer, and looks to be very much the heart and soul of your city. We would like Goodyear to remain here in Wolverhampton where we have a relationship with the Company that goes back 90 years.
Many years and many generations of Wulfrunians (People who live in Wolverhampton) have given the best years of their lives working hard for Goodyear’s.
We have learnt recently that Goodyear’s Executives have decided to put, 330 hard working men and women out of work here in the City of Wolverhampton.
The employees tell me that in the last ten years they have worked very hard to make the Wolverhampton plant viable. Goodyear themselves I am informed describe their plant & the mixing centre as the best in Europe, a world leader.
I am hoping that as the Leader of the City of Akron, you will understand the pain that the workers are going through here in this City of Wolverhampton.
Many of the workers that work for Goodyear’s resides in my electoral boundary hence this letter to you.
I am keen that we here in Wolverhampton explore every opportunity to keep our plant open.
I am hoping that you may wish to encourage Goodyear HQ and their CEO to look again at their decision to axe our Plant from their future plans for their business. I suspect that you will be thinking to your-self ”Why should I do this?” My hope is that you would see the hurt and pain that Akron would feel if Goodyear’s had made the same decision and withdrew from your great City.
Being involved in Local Government I am sure you will understand how our citizens and the local Goodyear’s workforce is looking for friends everywhere to offer that word of guidance, that influential support. I am hopeful that if you do visit Goodyear’s, or bump into the Chief Executive Officer or any of his fellow directors you will give some support or words of encouragement relating to our Plant and the very loyal workforce that Goodyear’s have here in Wolverhampton staying open!
We are expecting the first redundancies to staff here in October, so time is tight to save jobs and any help you feel you may be able to offer would be most welcome.
Yours sincerely
Councillor Phil Bateman MBE, FCILT