North DSM News

After a March 22 shutdown, Bridgestone tires decided to reopen their Des Moines factory April 20 in response to the dwindling numbers of their tire supply.

Executives originally closed the factory in order to prevent any spread of the new coronavirus. Yet, as they continued to sell tires during the shutdown, the factories were not making any to take their places.

About 15,000 tires were shipped from the warehouse during the shutdown. That number is expected to grow as farmers need tires in the peak growing season.

However, employees of the factory voice concern for their safety.

"I understand their fear. Everybody’s scared right now. I’d love to stay out too and just lay low until this thing goes away. Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen," Steve Vonk, president of United Steelworkers Local 310 told the Des Moines Register. 

Bridgestone reopened alongside other major Iowa factories, like Winnebago Industries' Forest City plant, meanwhile the state’s peak in cases is still rising for the next two weeks. 

Winnebago spokesman Sam Jefson said the company is observing "strict sensitization practices" and that employees are maintaining "appropriate social distance" from each other.

Bridgestone is requiring temperature checks when workers, truck drivers and vendors enter the factory and has spread out the break room chairs and tables. Additionally, select shower heads in the breakrooms have been removed to provide distance to employees washing up, disinfectant wipes were put in the breakrooms, employees were given masks, and all doors were propped open.

Vonk expects the factory to come back online slowly and that some workers are eager to return because they need the money.

Bridgestone’s union contract requires the company to pay workers 80% of their normal wage when furloughed. Yet, the aid given to employees by state unemployment benefits is considered first and Bridgestone only pays the difference.

Many workers did not receive any payment from Bridgestone recently due to projected aid from the federal government.

"We didn’t know exactly when the government was going to pay the $600," Vonk said. "We thought it was going to start. It’s just unfortunate. Hopefully, it does this week, or it will be a rough week again."