Sam Odom, Past-President URWA~Labor Giant in Union City TN

It is my sad duty to inform you that our beloved Past-President, Bro. Sam Odom of Local#878-Union City Tennessee, Goodyear Plant, has today passed away ! What a tremendous loss it is , not only for labor, but, the entire community ! Sam was the first President of Local#878-Union City, Goodyear ! I remember the first words, I ever spoke to Sam. He was up in a pick-up truck bed, trying to get us/workers to return to work. We were on a wildcat strike at the time. Wildcats were common in the early 70`s ! Goodyear treated us like dogs. They did not want us to organize, but, in so doing, they literally helped us create one of the most dynamic locals in the URW ! He told us to go back to work. I hollered up at him, Lead the way Sam ! Of course, he did not. But, he had fulfilled his obligatory duties`s as President. Sam, was President when we organized, he had very little power, except his charismatic way with his members. He was one of the fairest men, I have ever met ! Sam Odom, probably will not go down in the annals of history, as say, Walter Reuther or John L. Lewis, but he should ! I, as a member and voter for Bro. Sam Odom, will always cherish his memory and remember his contributions to free democratic trade unions. I considered Sam, my friend, and he was ! I think, I could go on and write more, I think, I will stop here. "Thank You" Bro. Sam Odom, my friend, my president, I know, that your family loved you and I know, that we loved you. You`ll be missed my friend !

Bro. Sam Odom, will be at White-Ransom Funeral Home in Union City Tennessee.

You may pay your respects on friday February 29, 2008 from 5:00pm. til 8:00pm.

His funeral will be Saturday at 11:00am. White-Ransom Funeral Home.

Bro. Jim Hurt, will conduct a Masonic Funeral service for Bro. Sam Odom, member of Union City#538...Saturday March 1, 2008 @ 11:00am. @ White-Ransom Funeral Home in Union City Tennessee...please attend if you can.

"Saving America" "Sam Odom, made it Better" !

Goodyear Tire Employee Rebate Program...Terrible

By : Don Jones~Retiree...2/16/08

I received my Goodyear-Dunlop-Kelly Tires, tire rebate coupons on Wednesday February 6, 2008 ! Not Too good. Several thousand years ago, I was working at the Goodyear Union City Tennessee plant, Mr. Robert Mercer, Chief Economic Officer, was visiting our plant. I was invited to attend a meeting he held in the meeting room up front. I cannot remember all the things he talked about, but when he was finished, he asked if there were any questions in regard to his talk or anything else that involved Goodyear ? Mine was the first hand up. Mr Dick Davies was the plant manager at the time. He called on me. My question to Mr. Mercer had to do with our Tire discount program, I explained to Mr. Mercer, that the present discount was not only non-existent, but could be manipulated. Thus there was no employee tire discount program. He turned to Mr. Davies and asked, is this true Dick ? Mr. Davies, said he did`nt know. He turned to me and said, Don, I do not know the answer to your inquiry, but I assure you, I`ll get back with you. I thought to myself, that's the end of that. I was wrong, not only did he get back with me, Mr. Mercer implemented a new Goodyear Employee Tire Rebate program, and it was a true employee discounted tire program. I am sorry to report that our present employee tire rebate program is almost non-existent. Goodyears Employee Tire Rebate program has deteriorated into a non-existent discount program once again. It seems that Goodyear and Mr. Bob Keegan have found another source of income. They send you a non-discounted tire`s rebate coupons and you/we buy Goodyear products. For the first time in over 30 years, I have bought non-Goodyear made tires and purchased them cheaper than I could have Goodyear Tires with my so-called Goodyear Tire Rebate program. I really hate that. The most discount you as an employee can receive is $20.00 on certain very expensive tires, about five different kinds. All other Goodyear-Kelly & Dunlop, branded and light truck bias and Marathon trailer tires, you get a whopping $10.00per tire. Light truck bias and Marathon tires, you get a huge $5.00 per tire. Goodyear calls this "The 2008 Associates Mail-In Rebate Program". I call it, The Goodyear Tire Rip-off program. I am not surprised at this turn of events. So, I say to you as employees/associates..."lol" There is no incentive to purchase the product that you manufacture. I really hate it. Hey Goodyear, can we get there from here ? Probably so, but, not on Goodyear-Kelly-Dunlop Tire`s ! In other words, the next step is that, you cannot afford to purchase the tires you make and build. Good ole Bob Keegan, can get another big bonus. My friend Sam Sinclair Sr. has always maintained that, Don Jones caused us to get a true Employee Tire discount program. I`m not sure about that ? I am sure that Mr Robert Mercer was a principled man. He realized a problem and fixed it !
If you see a word, mis-spelled, My Spell Checker is not working. "Neither is America" !

3/18/08

I wrote corporate Goodyear on their site on-line ! I sent them the above ! Below is their reply thus far !

From: goodyear_cr@goodyear.com on, 03/18/2008 02:58 PM Sent by: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Consumer Relations 728 1144 East Market Street Akron, OH 44316 Voice #: 800.321.2136 Fax #: 330.796.6829 Thank you for contacting our website and letting us know your concerns. We will file your complaint. Jamie, Consumer Relations.