ASTRO SHAPES Union approves new pact

Workers ratified the pact by a vote of 215-30.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
STRUTHERS -- Employees of Astro Shapes say they are ready to put their five-week strike behind them.
"We have [contract] language now to protect our jobs. That was why we went out on strike," said John Host, financial secretary for United Steelworkers of America Local 9401. "It's time to go back and produce metal now."
The union overwhelmingly approved a contract Saturday to end the strike that began Nov. 5.
Treasurer Janine Evanoff said workers will return to their jobs beginning at 7 a.m. Monday, with all subsequent shifts to report according to their regular schedules.
Host and Evanoff said 215 union members voted in favor of the four-year contract, and 30 voted against it. One ballot was discarded because it was indecisive.
Tony Sevi, union president, said the primary issue during the strike was subcontracting language. The new contract says the aluminum-extruding company can send work to outside suppliers only when there is too much work for union members to handle.
Concerned about jobs
Union members were concerned that language in a proposed contract would allow the company to outsource work and eliminate jobs. "It was a big issue," Sevi said.
Terms of the agreement also include annual raises of 40 cents per hour and a continuation of fully paid health care premiums. The union says top pay for production workers is $13.10 an hour, with the average wage being $11.02.
Another important part of the agreement was allowing all strikers to return to work. The company had said some workers were fired for misconduct on the picket line.
Those workers will instead by suspended without pay for six weeks, then return to work without that punishment appearing on their permanent record, union officials said.