idcds
For Better
Cleaning
nician (Shop), figured out a way
io improve a process and save
the company about $43,000 a
year. His idea was a better way
for a cleaning mix/operation of
No. 8 treating unit.
He suggested adding a wetting
agent to a commercial brand of
detergent in regular use, and
raising the water temperature
in the process that cleans up
waste, preventing it from pol
luting the environment.
HIS suggested wetting agent
and the hotter water produced
a better-foaming cleaner. While
Wentz’s improved mix/hot-
water method was being tried
100% UF Participation
People of the Bennettsville
plant delivered their com
bined contributions to the
United Fund of Marlboro
County last month, toward
the United Fund county goal
of $57,575.
The plant campaign was com
pleted with 100 per cent em
ployee participation and 60 per
cent of contributors giving
"FairShare."
A drawing of Fair Share peo
ple’s names November 18 de
cided winners of 6 prizes:
Charles Sweatt, tote bag; Wil
liam Ellison, electric blanket;
Ronald Brown, blender; Sarah
Townsend, camera; R e d o n a
David and Willie Mclvory, each
an $18.75 U. S. Savings Bond.
Tire^fone
• For Robert Wentz (left),
congratulations and the award
check from Firestone Textiles
President James B. Call.
“To Clean Smog Hogs” Robert Allen Wentz titled a sug
gestion on pollutant-cleaning in October. His idea proved
to be so valid that it brought the largest award payment
ever made at the Firestone Gastonia plant; $4,465. The sug
gestion was originally presented in late 1977.
Wentz, an air-pollution tech- out, he added another point to
Progress in the
'^r of the
GREEN
the original suggestion: use
solid boards instead of the regu
lar screens in the washing vats.
That made the detergent more
effective and longer-lasting.
Wentz’s combination idea, in
use since Feb. 1, is proving it
self on performance and cost-
saving—as expected.
Two years ago the ready-
prepared detergent for the
smog-cleanup operation at No.
8 was costing nearly $100,000
annually. Change to another
brand in 1977 cut the cost in
half. Now, the Wentz suggestion
is reducing the detergent cost
to about $15,000 a year.
BENNEHSVILLE
Frances Fletcher and M. D.
Coleman were chairpersons for
the United Way in-plant effort.
They were helped by O. W.
Frye, C. Chavis, George Wood-
berry, J. Covington and L. F.
Williams. E. W. Perkins Jr.,
plant manager, was chairman
for the industrial division of
Marlboro United Way this year.
DECEMBER
Firestone ^ nis
Textiles CofVlp^fiy Gastonia, North Carolina
Bennettsville, South Carolina Botvling Green, Kentucky
1977-78 Year
HIGHLIGHTS
Produciion • Total of the
3 domestic plants of textiles
division: 148,883,355 pounds.
By plants—G a s t o n i a ;
73,078,836; Bowling Green:
60,305,580; Bennetts-
ville: 15,447,939.
Wages and Benefits • Wage
increase of $.08 per hour for
hourly-rated jobs effective late
fiscal year. Of benefits, Christ
mas Eve (or day after Christmas
when Christmas falls on a Sun
day) added as paid holiday.
This brought total paid holi
days to 8.
Vacation provisions liberal
ized. Time reduced to qualify
for 1 through 4 weeks paid vaca
tion. The new schedule:
Years Weeks
Service Vacation
With Pay
1-3 1
3-13 2
13-18 3
18 or more 4
A & S Benefits. Accident and
sickness hospital insurance pay
effective, to begin first day in
hospital (it used to begin on 8th
day).
COLA—Cost Of Living Al
lowance. It was the second year
of COLA paid to all employees,
the amount based on Consumer
Price Index (CPI) of U. S. De
partment of Labor. Figured and
paid on quarterly basis. Fire
stone is one of very few com
panies in Gastonia, Bennetts-
viUe, Bowling Green areas that
have COLA benefits. The 4 in
creases last year averaged $.35
per hour, or pay of $14 per week
to both clock and salaried peo
ple.
Physical Improvements and
Additions • Gastonia: Construc
tion began and mostly com
pleted on $3-million Warehouse
with 172,000 square feet work
ing space, plus offices, loading
docks and rail line extended in
to new structure.
UGHI
Completed plant’s 7 th em
ployee parking area of 68 ve
hicle spaces. Powertruck main
tenance garage rebuilt; upgrad
ing of capabilities of Smog Hog
(pollution control of #8 treating
unit.)
Others: Addition extending
More on page 3
Domestic Tire Division
NEW
NAME
Firestone’s domestic tire di
vision—a separate reporting
unit since 1974—now is known
as Firestone Tire Company
(U. S.). The new designation
was effective November 1.
Frank A. LePage, executive
vice president in charge of the
North American Tire group,
also serves as president of Fire
stone Tire Company (U. S.).
It is responsible for manufac
turing, marketing and distribu
tion of all types Firestone and
Firestone-produced private-
brand tires in the U. S.
To The People
Of Firestone
Textiles Company
The Holiday Season again reminds us of
our many blessings and achievements. The
efforts and contributions you made toward
the success of our work during 1978 are
much appreciated.
We ask for your continued help and
loyal support in the year 1979. I wish for
you and your families a Blessed Holiday
Season. May it bring you good health, hap
piness and peace.
JAMES B. CALL, President
Firestone Textiles Company
The Most Joyful News ...
That night some shepherds were in the fields out
side the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Sud
denly an angel appeared among them, and the land
scape shone bright with the glory of the Lord. They
were badly frightened, but the angel reassured them.
“Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you the most
joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone!
The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been
born tonight in Bethlehem. How will you recognize
him? You will find a baby wrapped in a blanket,
lying in a manger.
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of
others—the armies of heaven—praising God:
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,” they sang,
“and peace on earth for all those pleasing him.”
When this great army of angels had returned again
to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Come
on! Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this wonderful
thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us
about.”
They ran to the village and found their way to
Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in
the manger.
From The Living Bible Religious Heritage of America
Washington, D. C.