Friday, June 27, 2003
WHEATLAND, Pa. -- Wheatland Tube Co. said it will take a couple of weeks to review and prepare a response to a contract settlement proposal made by striking steelworkers.
Representatives of the company and United Steelworkers of America Local 1660 met for about four hours Tuesday in a bargaining session called by federal mediator Pat Mingarelli.
The union, which represents 470 hourly workers at the company's plant here, presented what it said was an offer on all outstanding issues in an effort to end the strike that began April 28.
The union made some movement on a number of issues, including health care, said Dom Vadala, union president.
Bill Kerins, the company's vice president of operations, said pension provisions proposed by the union will require actuarial studies to determine if they are feasible.
That could take about two weeks, he added.
The company will respond to the union proposals in detail at the next session set for July 14, Kerins said.
Employee sharing of health-care costs and pension changes have been listed as the main stumbling blocks to a new contract.