Goodyear Backpedals, Changes Stance

Fox Business has the story:

Goodyear clarified its policy on acceptable workplace attire on Thursday, one day after reports that one of its facilities in Topeka, Kansas had banned “Make America Great Again” and “Blue Lives Matter” apparel which prompted President Trump to call for a boycott of the Ohio-based company.

Goodyear Chairman and CEO Rich Kramer said the slide from a presentation at the Topeka plant “was not approved or distributed by Goodyear Corporate or anyone outside of that facility.” The company has clarified its policy to inform employees that they can “express support for law enforcement through apparel at Goodyear facilities," but are asked to "refrain" from wearing apparel of a political nature.

“I deeply regret the impression it has created and want to clarify Goodyear’s position,” Kramer said. “First, to be clear, Goodyear does not endorse any political organization, party or candidate. We have a longstanding corporate policy that asks associates to refrain from workplace expressions in support of any candidate or political party.

“Second, Goodyear strongly supports our law enforcement partners and deeply appreciates all they do to put their lives on the line each and every day for our communities,” Kramer added. “We have proudly supplied tires to police and fire personnel for more than 100 years and that relationship is foundational to our company.”

Trump called for a boycott of Goodyear tires after a local news station in Kansas shared a slide of a presentation captured by an employee. The slide, reportedly taken from a diversity training session, showed a list of acceptable and unacceptable phrases under Goodyear’s “zero-tolerance policy.”

This comes after leaked audio was just revealed from a training meeting where an instructer is heard telling employees that they are only allowed to wear attire that meets a certain social justice criteria.

He specifically states that 'all lives matter' and 'blue lives matter' attire will not be permitted.

The Blaze has more on the leaked audio:

Newly released audio purported to be from a recent training meeting at Goodyear Tire and Rubber company appears to corroborate the alleged training slide that went viral earlier this week.

The company came under fire this week for its recent "zero-tolerance" policy that banned overt support for police officers or MAGA hats, but expressed approval for social justice measures such as Black Lives Matter.

What are the new details?
In the newly released audio posted by WIBW-TV in Topeka, Kansas, an unidentified instructor can be heard telling employees that they are permitted to express their views on social justice or inequity matters on attire — but only if it's the "right" kind of social justice and inequity, such a supporting Black Lives Matter or LGBTQ issues.

"Some people may wish to express their views on social justice or inequity or equity issues such as black lives matter or LGBTQ pride on their face coverings, shirts or wristbands," the instructor can be heard telling employees. "That will be deemed approved because it applies with a zero-tolerance stance."

"However," the trainer can be heard adding, "if any associate wears all, blue, white lives matter shirts or face coverings, that will be not appropriate."

The unidentified instructor goes on to explain that such zero-tolerance rules were put into place to encourage harmony in the workplace.

"The rules around now what you can wear. Let's try and comply with these so you know everybody feels good in this factory. I want to make sure guys, think about what we do in this factory, in this factory right," the instructor adds. "We all work together to make tires, that's what we do. That's what we get paid to do. So, let's continue to do that and do the right thing and keep this place what it has always been, a good place to work."