Findlay Cooper jobs going to Akron

FINDLAY -- The "vast majority" of global functions and research and development positions at the former Cooper Tire operations in Findlay have recently been offered roles and relocation support to join Goodyear Tire & Rubber's headquarters in Akron, the company reported Tuesday. Goodyear, which bought Cooper in June 2021, declined to report the number of positions affected. "For associates not receiving or not choosing to accept an offer, we are providing them severance packages to support them through their transition," Goodyear reported. The company also has declined to report how many it employs in Findlay. "Goodyear still expects to maintain a presence in Findlay, and our Findlay plant will remain unaffected as expanding our production and manufacturing capabilities across our footprint remains a top priority," Goodyear stated. Goodyear in May reported that it was ramping up hiring at the Findlay factory with tire demand strong. Goodyear then declined to disclose how many jobs it was adding. The workforce ramp up at the Findlay plant will unfold in phases over the next year or longer, an official said in May. The five-day-a-week production schedule once forced by the pandemic has been waived, and the Findlay plant has returned to a seven-day-a-week production schedule to keep up with tire demand. Goodyear is transferring much of the production of a three-ply tire from the Texarkana, Arkansas, factory to the Findlay plant. Though no square-footage is being added to the Findlay plant, its production capacities are being increased by Goodyear. Investment within the Findlay plant has doubled to increase capacity and to enable production of the three-ply tire, a company official said.