Wednesday, October 30, 2002
Negotiations may begin again Nov. 15, a union representative said.
THE VINDICATOR, YOUNGSTOWN, OH
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A Lawrence County judge has issued a temporary restraining order against striking Universal-Rundle employees.
Judge Dominick Motto ordered workers to refrain from "obstructing, blocking or preventing ingress and egress of persons, vehicles and equipment from entering and exiting" Universal-Rundle's Cherry Street plant.
The order also prohibits violence or vandalism.
A hearing to determine if a permanent order will be issued is set for 8:30 a.m. Thursday.
Joe Bish, representative from the Glass Molders, Pottery, Plastics & amp; Allied Workers International Union, said the company is asking that the number of pickets be restricted to four, standing 10 feet apart.
Company spokesman Steve Golimowski could not be reached.
Walked off Oct. 15
Workers in New Castle, Iowa and Georgia walked off the job Oct. 15 over wages and benefits, and there have been no negotiations since then.
Union members in Georgia returned to work last week, but those in New Castle and Iowa remained on strike. There are 115 workers in New Castle and about 40 in Iowa.
Bish said they have made tentative plans to resume negotiations Nov. 15.
The company has threatened to hire replacement workers, but none had been brought in as of Tuesday.