PENNSYLVANIA Wheatland Tube, steel workers fail to reach a deal on contract

THE VINDICATOR, YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO
WHEATLAND, Pa. -- Negotiators for Wheatland Tube Co. and striking steel workers met for five hours Monday but were unable to reach a settlement to an 11-week strike at the company's plant here.
The two sides were to meet again today to resume talks.
Monday's session was the first in more than two weeks and included a company response to a proposal by Local 1660 of the United Steelworkers of America for a new contract.
Details of the session haven't been revealed, but Dom Vadala, union president, said there was "a little bit of movement on both sides."
The 470 members of Local 1660 walked off the job with the expiration of their old contract April 28. Vadala said it's become the longest work stoppage since a 1962 strike at the plant.
"It's been a long time. Guys want a contract," Vadala said, adding that workers' spirits are good.
The hourly workers went on strike after negotiations failed to produce a new contract. A company insistence that workers begin paying part of their health-care insurance premium and accept changes in pension plans are main stumbling blocks to a settlement.