Wheatland strikers propose health plan

THE VINDICATOR, YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO
WHEATLAND, Pa. -- Striking Steelworkers at the Wheatland Tube Co. have come up with a proposal that they say would save the company $1 million a year in health-care costs.
The company's insistence that hourly workers begin to pick up a share of their health-care costs is a major stumbling block in efforts to reach a new contract with Local 1660 of the United Steelworkers of America. The old pact expired April 28.
Talks broke down and the 470 union members walked off the job.
On Wednesday, the two sides, under the direction of federal mediator Patrick Mingarelli, had their first negotiating session in weeks.
It only lasted about an hour but Dom Vadala, union president, said the union offered the company a health-care proposal with a new carrier that he said would save $1 million a year in insurance costs.
Employees would face larger co-payments for health services under the proposal, he said.
"The ball's in their court now," Vadala said, adding that company representatives promised to look at the proposal and get back to the union.