WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: This is a series of WNYLaborToday.com Labor News Reports on a number of deemed Essential Union-represented Workers across Western New York, who deserve our thanks for continuing to do the jobs that not only allow us to stay safe and healthy, but produce the goods and services needed to ensure our economy continues humming.  Today, Your On-Line Labor Newspaper features Jeff Linton (pictured above), a 28-year Member of United Steelworkers Local 135, who is employed as a Department Mechanic at Sumitomo Rubber USA LLC’s Tire Plant in Tonawanda, New York.

(TONAWANDA, NEW YORK) – Prior to Sumitomo Rubber USA LLC’s Tire Plant in Tonawanda being shut down for as much three weeks beginning this week, United Steelworkers (USW) Local 135 Member Jeff Linton, a Department Mechanic, was deemed an Essential Worker, making sure the car, truck and bus tire manufacturing lines continued to run to meet the demand for a variety of vehicles, including those carrying essential foods and products to Americans coping with the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Linton, a 56-year-old father of six, whose wife works as a Nurse at Buffalo’s Children’s Hospital, told WNYLaborToday.com that he didn’t feel he was an “essential” Worker at first, but now realizes the role he’s played has helped ensure the flow of commerce in this country.

“We ‘make (8,000 to 10,000) a week and (500,000 to 600,000) a year, but I didn’t think my job would be essential, not like’ Nurses, Firefighters, Police and those who work in food service - but I’m ‘glad’ to be working because vehicles ‘need’ tires,” said Linton, a Plant Mechanic whose helped make sure the manufacturing lines at the former Dunlop Tire Plant located just outside Buffalo continue to hum.

USW Local 135 represents slightly more than 1,000 Workers who are all employed at Sumitomo, including 170 in the Skilled Trades, the category that Linton falls into, Union President Thomas O’Shei tells Your On-Line Labor Newspaper. 

Prior to the shutdown that started this week, O’Shei says USW-represented Workers inside the plant “were being socially distanced,” working anywhere from 12 feet to 20 feet apart. 

“Every manufacturing operation in New York State is considered ‘essential,’” he said.  “The fact is ‘you want to go ahead (and do your job) safely, without being exposed to the virus.’  (The plant) is ‘very important’ (to Western New York) with ‘more than’ a ($170 million economic) impact.  ‘People still have to have tires for their vehicles,’ including services like Meals on Wheels.  In fact, the company and our Union ‘donated fifty sets of tires to them.’  ‘It was a suggestion made by one of our Members.’”

There was a COVID-19 Team assembled within the plant, O’Shei added, which worked to disinfect each work area in order to help protect and safeguard Worker health. 

“Everybody has masks too,” he added.

Asked if he was proud of his Members working inside the sprawling Tonawanda plant, despite the uncertainty of what may or may not happen, O’Shei quickly answered: “Absolutely!”

“I am ‘very’ proud of them.  They ‘continued to come in and work to help keep their fellow Members safe.’  That COVID-19 Team ‘was made up of all’ volunteers.  ‘We’re making sure everyone also has hand-sanitizer.’  And, our company’s lab was printing face shield with a (3D) printer.  Our Members have ‘stepped up.’  They’re ‘not complaining.’”

Linton, meanwhile, took the time to answer a series of questions that WNYLaborToday.com is asking each and every Union-represented Front-Line Essential Worker that Your On-Line Labor Newspaper plans to interview:

What’s your reaction to being designated an Essential Worker?

Linton: I ‘didn’t think’ we (the Workers at Sumitomo) would be ‘essential.’  I thought ‘essential’ would be Nurses, Firefighters, Police, Food Service Workers, ‘but I’m glad to be working.’  'We make (8,000 to 10,000) a week and (500,000 to 600,000) a year.'  ‘We need cars and cars need tires.’

What precautions has your workplace taken to ensure you work healthy?

Linton: I’m working five days a week, eight hours a day, Monday through Friday.  We have the ‘good luck to have a lot’ of hand sanitizer.  ‘We’re doing everything we can do, but there’s no game plan.’  This is ‘unprecedented.’ 

How important is it for you and your fellow Workers to continue to do the job you do?

Linton: I think it’s ‘pretty important, but not as important as my wife, who works in a hospital.’  ‘But you need tires’ on your (vehicles).  ‘We all need this.’

How important has it been Working Union at your employer?

Linton: It’s been ‘really important’ (Working Union).  And I’m ‘glad the Union is here and that I’m part of my Union.’  There would be ‘no’ in-put (from Workers) ‘without’ a Union.

Do you think there’s a new-found respect for those Essential Workers who continue working in their jobs while the rest of the Nation self-quarantines?

Linton: ‘I think there is.’  ‘It’s a shame (there hasn’t been such a high level of respect) before.’  And I have a ‘new-found respect for all those (essential) Workers, including kids working at the grocery stores.’  But like I said, ‘there would be no in-put (in the workplace) for Workers without a Union.’