Letter from area leaders demands Giti Tire in Chester County, SC discuss work conditions
About 40 people approached the gates at the Giti Tire Manufacturing (USA) plant in Richburg, S.C. on Tuesday. They had come to deliver a letter, intended for Giti CEO Phang Wai Yeen. The letter asked for fair treatment of Giti workers.
The group was made up concerned citizens, religious leaders, members of the Chester City Council and representatives for the United Steel Workers Union. They also were joined by South Carolina State Representatives John King (D-York County 42) and Annie McDaniel (D-Chester, Fairfield and Richland, 41).
When plans were announced in 2015, a deal to build the Giti plant in Richburg was celebrated as a chance for economic growth in Chester County.
The company committed to invest $560 million -- including 1,700 employees and offering high wages -- in the Richburg plant. It was a project S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster called “a gamechanger.” But community leaders in Chester County say Giti has not made good on its promises.
Chester leaders say workers are being treated “without dignity.”
What’s in the letter?
Signed by 27 local leaders, the letter demands that officials from Giti “meet with us... to address issues we are hearing from workers.”
The leaders include Chester Mayor Wanda Stringfellow, McDaniel, King and York County Councilman Bump Roddey.
“Workers have reported mandatory overtime, unpredictable schedules, low wages, and the inability to have time off with their families without retaliation. When workers have raised concerns your company has begun intimidating and even threatening to close the plant if they decide to exercise their right to protected, concerted activity,” the letter reads.
The coalition has demanded a response “no later than Dec. 3, 2021.”
Alleged mistreatment
Anonymous reports by workers, presented as the group convened Tuesday, claimed that discussion of joining a union often costs employees their job.
“While Giti promised to create 1,700 good-paying jobs when it opened its Richburg plant, it currently pays low wages, requires oppressive amounts of overtime and attempts to intimidate workers fighting for a voice in the workplace,” a statement by USW says.
There’s also the issue of layoffs, which have been disputed by Giti.
“The company has betrayed the public trust long before COVID-19,” according to a statement released last March by the United Steel Workers Union.
But a continuing complaint heard Tuesday was that despite receiving an estimated $10 million from federal pandemic programs to avoid layoffs, Giti has laid off workers.
“Giti promised it would use the PPP loans to retain 500 workers, but most of the factory workers lost their jobs for about one month and many still did not have their jobs back 10 months after the initial plant shutdown,” a report released earlier this year by nonprofit Americans for Financial Reform says.
At the time, David Shelton, director of industry relations at Giti, said all furloughed employees were offered their jobs back in August 2020.
“Many of these employees rejoined us; some employees voluntarily declined,” he said.
However, USW estimates 100 workers remain laid off.
Holding up their end of the deal
“When Giti first came here, I was so elated, I was so happy,” McDaniel said. “Now I’m hearing that they are treating our people as if they are, and that they do not deserve dignity and pride in the workplace. I read some of the comments, and some of the statements that have been made, by some of the workers in this place. It just hurt me to know we’re treating our people without dignity.”
Addressing the group Tuesday, King put a spin on Gov. McMaster’s catchphrase, ‘it’s a great day in South Carolina.’
“It’s not a great day in South Carolina. It’s not a great day when we have schools that are being neglected while we take care of companies like this,” he said. “I stand here with you as we support these employees in ensuring that Giti Tire uphold their end of the bargain. We have an obligation.”
The county dished out a wealth incentives to Giti to land the company in Chester, McDaniel said.
Records show that Chester County offered job development credits, which pay out a sum for each employee hired, for up to 10 years. The sum per employee is unknown.
The county also entered a “fee-in-lieu” agreement, which allows a company to pay a direct fee instead of property tax, often saving businesses millions over a set amount of years.
Waiting for a response
On Tuesday, when the coalition approached Giti’s security gates, employees there refused to accept the letter.
“This is for you!” the crowd erupted, “We’re fighting for you!”
But they were still turned away.
When police responded to the scene, King approached officers and explained the situation.
“I promise you I will deliver it,” one officer said, “I promise you, I will give it directly to the manager.”
King then handed officer the letter. The officer said he would contact King when he had delivered the letter.
