Goodyear Tire & Rubber, one of Cumberland County’s largest employers, could shut its doors by the end of next year, according to a statement from the company. The closure would leave 1,700 people without a job.
Spokesperson Kylie Ulanski released the following statement from the company: “After extensive efforts to make the Fayetteville, North Carolina facility competitive, Goodyear is in discussions with the United Steelworkers to close the facility by the end of 2027. This difficult action is necessary to strengthen Goodyear’s ability to compete in today’s marketplace and support the long‑term health of the business. Our focus is on treating all impacted associates fairly and communicating openly as discussions move forward.”
The United Steelworkers Local 959 union represents most workers at the plant. A message for local president Tim Godfrey was left Tuesday afternoon.
The Goodyear tire company has been in Cumberland County for more than 50 years. It opened on Ramsey Street on Dec. 13, 1969, as Kelly-Springfield Tire Co., a Goodyear subsidiary. The companies merged operations in 1996, and the facility was renamed Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. in 2005. Today, the plant spans more than 2.2 million square feet on a 403-acre site.
‘Challenging environment’
In the summer of 2022, the Fayetteville United Steelworkers union threatened a strike over a master labor contract that covered the Fayetteville plant and several other U.S. facilities; it was set to expire in late July of that year. Negotiations had stalled over wages, healthcare costs and retirement benefits. A strike was averted hours before an extended deadline expired; a new four-year contract was agreed and covered almost 6,000 workers across the country.
On May 7, Goodyear CEO Mark Stewart said its first quarter results reflected a “challenging environment” in the runup to an investor call the next morning. The company reported first-quarter net sales of $3.9 billion and net losses of $249 million, according to a news release.
First quarter sales in its Americas division, which covers Fayetteville, were 17.5% lower than the previous year, the decline driven by the company’s sale of its chemical business, fewer people replacing old tires and “weak industry conditions in North America,” the release states. The company’s replacement tire unit volume decreased 23%, according to the release.
“Looking ahead, increased pressure on industry demand and higher raw material costs stemming from the conflict in the Middle East require that we continue to take meaningful actions to strengthen our cost structure,” added Stewart. “We have consistently demonstrated a strong capability in driving cost transformation. We expect to deliver further savings to position the company for long term value creation.”
According to the Fayetteville-Cumberland Economic Development Corporation, Goodyear employed 2,100 people at its Fayetteville plant as of February 2025, making it the county’s fifth-largest employer. Only Walmart, Cape Fear Valley, Cumberland County Schools and the Department of Defense employ more people locally.
Local reaction
City and county officials said they are preparing support services for workers and families who could be affected by the closure.
In a joint statement, Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin; Cumberland County Board of Commissioners Chair Kirk deViere; and Robert Geons, president of Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation, said the Fayetteville plant “has been an important part of Cumberland County’s manufacturing community” for more than 55 years and “has provided generations of residents with stable careers.”
“While this news is disappointing, Fayetteville has always risen to meet challenges head-on,” Colvin said in the release. “We are redoubling our efforts to connect our workforce to new opportunities and ensure our residents are prepared for the jobs of tomorrow. Our commitment to building a Next Generation workforce has never been more critical.”
DeViere said the city and county are working with NCWorks, Fayetteville Technical Community College and other workforce partners “to commit to providing support and resources to those affected.”
Van Geons said local and state partners are ready to assist workers who would lose their jobs.
“Assuming the closure proceeds, FCEDC will work in close coordination with state and local workforce development partners to ensure that all impacted employees have seamless access to training programs, job placement services, and other forms of support,” he said.
Editor’s note: This story was updated to add new information.
Reporting by Myron B. Pitts, Fayetteville Observer / The Fayetteville Observer
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