Mayor trying to find solution to Universal-Rundle strike

NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Striking Universal-Rundle employees are hoping the mayor of New Castle can help end their weeklong work stoppage.
Workers have been picketing since midnight Oct. 15 in a dispute over wages and benefits. The New Castle plant employs about 100 people. Employees at two other plants in Georgia and Iowa are also on strike.
Mayor Timothy Fulkerson met Tuesday with Ed Erhardt, the president of Local 365 of the Glass Molders, Pottery, Plastics & amp; Allied Workers.
Erhardt said the mayor has offered to inform company officials about state tax breaks and incentives that could free up money for wages and benefits for the employees, Erhardt said.
Fulkerson said he has contacted the Governor's Action Team, a group set up to help save jobs in Pennsylvania, to see if the state can help the company make some upgrades at the plant to make it more profitable.
Company officials have not threatened to close the plant, but Fulkerson fears if the strike continues, the company will lose customers and eventually will have to close it.