United Voice April 2025

80 Years of Solidarity

On February 28, 1945, 80 years ago, the first tire was cured at the Firestone Plant here in Des Moines. With the events planned to commemorate the milestone this week, it seemed appropriate to acknowledge a legacy we should all be proud of. Our local union, Local 310, has been here since the beginning, with 50 years as United Rubber Workers and 30 years as United Steelworkers. The plant’s success has depended on the union brothers and sisters who have walked through those gates every day to produce the best ag tire in the world. Many of these union siblings have had multiple generations of family who have made their living within the walls of the plant, and many of you have had parents and grandparents who worked here. We’ve had members, both retired and current, who contributed 40 or more years, half the life of the factory. This facility has provided a livelihood to thousands of dedicated workers over eight decades. I have the honor of speaking to retirees every day in my job. They are thankful for their union negotiated pensions and retiree healthcare. I spoke to one gentleman just the other day who retired clear back in 1986. His own father also retired from here, having started when the plant first opened, with a clock card number of 35. 

No doubt times have been tough here for at least the last year now, but Local 310 and the Firestone Ag plant have weathered rough waters before. Ask some of the old timers that are still left or who have retired about the layoffs, strikes, and other tough times they endured to get here. I don’t know what the future holds, but I know during past times of struggle it was the resilience of the members of Local 310 that got us through. All that each of us can do is come to work to do our part like we do every day, putting out the best product we can. It’s our devotion to quality and workmanship that has kept Firestone Ag tires American Made and Union Made for 80 years, and hopefully for many more to come.