Movement reported in Wheatland talks

WHEATLAND, Pa. -- Negotiators for Wheatland Tube Co. and its striking production workers said that there was some movement in contract talks Friday and that the two sides will meet again at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
"There was considerable movement on our part, but not on theirs," said Dom Vadala, chief negotiator for Local 1660 of the United Steelworkers of America.
"Both sides moved a little bit," said Bill Kerins, company vice president of operations.
He said both sides will review their latest proposals as well as each other's proposals to see if any additional movement is possible.
The two sides have been meeting under the direction of a federal mediator since before the strike by 470 steelworkers began April 28 with the expiration of their old contract.
Things heated up this week when the company suddenly resumed some production using company foremen to run equipment and began hauling pipe out of the plant, angering strikers outside the gates.
An agreement between the two sides and approved by a common pleas judge Thursday limits the total number of pickets around the plant to 27 at any time.