TY - JOUR
T1 - Strikes, scabs, and tread separations
T2 - Labor strife and the production of defective Bridgestone/Firestone tires
AU - Krueger, Alan B.
AU - Mas, Alexandre
PY - 2004/4
Y1 - 2004/4
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
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U2 - 10.1086/381479
DO - 10.1086/381479
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:2542460624
SN - 0022-3808
VL - 112
SP - 253
EP - 289
JO - Journal of Political Economy
JF - Journal of Political Economy
IS - 2
ER -