NORMAL - One foot of snow wasn't an excuse for everyone to miss work this week.

Union workers at the Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire plant in Normal were given unexcused absences Tuesday if they didn't brave the blizzard conditions and come to work.

Workers get eight unexcused absences each year and may be fired if they take more, said Denny Robinson, president of Local 787 the United Steel Workers of America.

Local Bridgestone representatives were unavailable, but corporate spokesman Dan MacDonald and Robinson both agreed that the company was following contractual policy agreed upon by the two parties.

"Everyone knows the rules, and we're going by the rules," MacDonald said.

No one was punished, MacDonald noted, and workers who showed up late were excused.

About half the plant's 265 union employees made it to work, Robinson said. Some live out of town. If roads are closed, he said, workers are excused, but they need a signed letter from the county road commissioner.

As far as Robinson knew, no one was injured trying to make it to work Tuesday.

The union is in the midst of contract negotiations with the company, Robinson said. They've been working under the old contract, which expired in July. Robinson said he'd like the new contract to have more leeway for workers during hazardous driving conditions.