Strikes, Scabs, and Tread Separations: Labor Strife and the Production of Defective Bridgestone/firestone Tires

This paper provides a case study of the effect of labor relations on product quality. We consider whether a long, contentious strike and the hiring of replacement workers at Bridgestone/Firestone's Decatur, Illinois, plant in the mid-1990s contributed to the production of defective tires. Using...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Journal of political economy Vol. 112; no. 2
Main Authors Krueger, Alan B, Mas, Alexandre
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published University of Chicago Press, Journals Division 01.04.2004
Subjects
Illinois
Labor
Labor Relations
Strikes
Illinois
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Summary:This paper provides a case study of the effect of labor relations on product quality. We consider whether a long, contentious strike and the hiring of replacement workers at Bridgestone/Firestone's Decatur, Illinois, plant in the mid-1990s contributed to the production of defective tires. Using several independent data sources and looking before and after the strike and across plants, we find that labor strife at the Decatur plant closely coincided with lower product quality. Monthly data suggest that defects were particularly high around the time concessions were demanded and when large numbers of replacement workers and returning strikers worked side by side.
ISSN:0022-3808
DOI:10.1086/381479