Date:

January , 2002

For More Information Contact:

Diane Gonzolas, Citizen Information Center, 441-7831

"The potential closing of the hose operations at the Lincoln Goodyear plant and the loss of up to 500 jobs over the next two years is a disappointment for the entire community. Goodyear has been part of Lincoln since the 1940s and has been an excellent corporate citizen. Many families will be directly affected by the layoffs. My own father worked at the plant for 25 years before retiring. There are many like me with personal ties to the company who also feel this loss.

"The City and the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development have been discussing the local Goodyear plant's financial situation with company officials and United Steelworkers Local 286 since concerns about the plant were first raised publicly some time ago. We will continue to do all we can to retain these jobs in Lincoln.

"It appears the hose operations at the Lincoln Goodyear plant may have been losing money for quite a number of years due to labor costs, according to Goodyear management. This appears to be the primary reason for the decision. We will work with Goodyear management and labor officials to see if there is any way to address this concern."