Date of publication: February 15, 2006
Source: Reuters
Production resumed at Bridgestone Corp's (5108.T) Firestone rubber plantation in Liberia on Wednesday after a strike by workers over salaries and working conditions, a senior company official said.
"The workers have started returning to work today ... Most of the departments are functioning ... Production has resumed," the official told Reuters.
The dispute at the 240 square-mile plantation, whose workforce numbers more than 4,000 people, began a week and a half ago with workers demanding the cancellation of a 37.5 percent deduction made from their salaries.
Firestone officials said the amount was deducted so it could go toward healthcare, education and other benefits for employees.
Labor Minister-designate Kofi Woods, who was part of the government delegation that helped negotiate during the strike, said there were still issues to be resolved but that the workers had nonetheless agreed to call off their action.
"We went 75 percent (of the way) in the negotiations and tomorrow we will go 100 percent," Woods told Reuters.
"Reports from Firestone are that workers have resumed. They have called off the strike," he said.