WTOL.com: News, Weather and Sport for Toledo, OhioCooper Tire workers get help from NFL union president

Cooper Tire workers get help from NFL union president

FINDLAY, OH (WTOL) – The head of the NFL Players Association has joined the cause of the locked out Cooper Tire workers in Findlay.

The United Steelworkers Local 207L is receiving support from Demaurice Smith, the Executive Director of the NFLPA.

Smith helped players reach an agreement on a new contract with the NFL in time for the season to begin when the league was involved in a labor crisis last summer.

Smith recently sent a strongly worded letter to Cooper Tire management urging them to end the lockout, stating:

"Cooper Tire's treatment of its employees deeply troubles the members and leadership of the NFLPA and we are proud to support the many workers at Cooper Tire who are defying wage-cutting demands. I want you to know that working people deserve living wages, dignity, and respect. We look forward to the day when Cooper meets that standard."

Workers told WTOL's Tim Miller that there has been no movement since December 13^th, and they'll take anything they can get.

They were locked out and they wanted to go in and work out and do their training like they normally do and they weren't able to do that. We all want to work and we all want to go in there and make tires like we've been doing for years. explained Cooper Tire worker Randy Walters.

"Does corporate really care? Probably not. They could care less. But it is good moral support for us." said employee Mark Lambright.

A spokesperson for Cooper Tire has told us that a response to the NFLPA's letter has not been given.

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