Firestone to Close Three Plants

Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., the second largest U.S. tire maker, said today it has notified the United Rubber Workers that it will close three plants after the union’s rejection for a second time of a cost-cutting agreement.

The plants, employing a total of about 2,900 people, are in Des Moines, Iowa; Bloomington, Ill., and Oklahoma City and will be closed on or before Sept. 15, Firestone spokesman Bob Troyer said. Since John Nevin took over as chief executive seven years ago, Firestone has been streamlining its operations in order to focus on its healthiest markets and best-performing plants.