After talks fail, union at Astro Shapes strikes

Strikers want a larger raises and job protection language.
By CYNTHIA VINARSKY
and DON SHILLING
VINDICATOR BUSINESS STAFF
STRUTHERS -- Astro Shapes said its final contract offer is generous, but striking workers say it wasn't enough.
About 320 union workers at the Struthers aluminum extruder walked off the job early today after negotiations failed to reach a new contract.
Workers want larger raises and changes in contract language to keep jobs from being outsourced.
"We are here for the long haul," said Janine Evanoff, treasurer of Local 9401 of the United Steelworkers of America. "We're not going away."
Bob Cene Jr., company vice president, said officials are working with a federal mediator to set up further negotiations.
Company's proposal
The company's proposal included pay increases of 40 cents per hour in each year of the four-year agreement, along with a $750 signing bonus.
Workers would have retained their current level of health benefits, with no employee contribution for premiums throughout the term of the pact.
Company officials called the package "an extremely generous one, given current economic conditions and pressures from foreign competition and rising health care and energy costs."
The offer wasn't enough because the company is profitable and has been setting production records, Evanoff said.
"We know this company has the money," she said.
The union wants annual raises of at least 50 cents an hour, she said.
It also want to shorten the time it takes workers to reach the top of the pay scale. Evanoff said workers start at $6.85 an hour and must be on the job more than 12 years to reach the top scale of $13.10.
Evanoff said workers just aren't paid enough, and many have had to file bankruptcy even though they are working seven days a week.
The average pay for union members is $11.02 an hour, said Tony Sevi, union president.
Language change?
Evanoff said workers want contract language to be changed because they lost a case two years ago when an arbitrator allowed the company to move its truck driving to an outside supplier. About 15 union jobs were lost.
"Our fear is that if they can do that to the truck drivers, then they can do it to any position in the plant," she said.
This is the third set of contract negotiations for Local 9401, which was formed in 1995.
Cene said the company's local competitors include: Indalex, a British-owned company that has plants in Canada, Girard and Niles; General Extrusions, with plants in Boardman and Leetonia; and Aerolite Extrusion in Boardman.
"We based our decisions and our offer on what our local competitors are offering," he said. "We have to be competitive with other companies. We feel we put together a great package, and we went as far as we could, but we intend to continue to bargain in good faith."
Astro Shapes produces aluminum extrusions for window frames, patio enclosures, car parts and other uses.
The company was founded in 1971 and employs 425, including salaried workers.