Firestone Fibers and Textiles, LLC (a Bridgestone Americas subsidiary), announced 81 layoffs across its Kings Mountain (100 Firestone Lane) and Gastonia (315 S. Dalton Street) facilities in Gaston County, NC, under a WARN Act notice dated January 27, 2026. The cuts—46 on March 27 and 35 on April 28—stem from outsourcing a product previously shipped to Joliette, Canada, amid shifting global markets, supply chains, and U.S.-Canada trade dynamics.
Company Rationale
Bridgestone cited a strategic pivot to premium tire production, redirecting resources from fabric operations. Spokesperson Emily Weaver noted this allows focus on core tire and solutions businesses.
Union Impact
Seventy-five of the affected workers belong to United Steelworkers Local 1133L in Kings Mountain; union president Vera Passmore was unavailable for comment.
This manufacturing update echoes your interest in regional economic shifts, though it’s in North Carolina adjacent to your South Carolina focus.
