AKRON, Ohio — Workers on strike with the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company have begun returning to work at the 16 plants represented by the United Steelworkers.

The 86-day strike ended just before the New Year with ratification of a continent-wide agreement between the tire manufacturer and the United Steelworkers.

“Goodyear welcomes the return to work of our USW associates,” said Jon Rich, president of Goodyear’s North American Tire business. “I have no doubt our associates will quickly return to their normal high levels of performance and productivity.”

Production at the affected tire and engineered products plants is expected to ramp up over the next few weeks and full supply of Goodyear products is expected to be available soon thereafter.

United Steelworkers’ national director Ken Neumann noted that at last week’s agreement with Goodyear would not have been achieved without the support of thousands of working people, their organizations and others who supported the Goodyear strikers in Canada.

“The solidarity and commitment of working people, not just in our union, but across the country, made it possible to settle this 86-day strike,” he stated.

North-America-wide negotiations between the USW and Goodyear began last June and contracts expired July 22. The USW delivered strike notice on Oct. 2 and 15,000 USW members in 16 plants throughout North America struck on Oct. 5. Workers began returning to work on Jan. 2.