Bridgestone Firestone Workers Approve Deal in Tennessee

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nion workers at a Bridgestone Firestone plant in Tennessee avoided a strike by voting Monday to approve a one-year contract, the Associated Press reported.

The contract approved by United Steelworkers Local 1155 covers about 700 employees who make truck and bus tires at the plant in Morrison, about 60 miles southeast of Nashville, AP said.

United Steelworkers have already ratified such deals at seven of Bridgestone Firestone's U.S. plants, giving workers a wage increase and job security for at least a year, AP reported.

It was the second vote for the workers in Morrison, 85% of whom rejected the same contract in June. Since then, the national union has encouraged the local to ratify the contract, and 74% of the Morrison workers approved it on the second vote, AP said.

The local had been set to strike Friday before deciding to vote again on the offer.

Workers would get an average $1.70 per hour pay raise by next summer with continued health insurance including no monthly premiums for current employees. Wages range from about $20 to $35 an hour, AP said.