ASTRO SHAPES Union sets up picket lines at plant

The company said it based its proposal on what local competitors are offering.
STRUTHERS -- Unionized workers at Astro Shapes set up picket lines early today at an aluminum extrusion plant on Main Street after negotiating teams for the union and the company failed to reach an agreement before their contract expired at midnight.
Hourly workers are represented by Local 9401 of the United Steelworkers of America. Union leaders could not be reached to comment.
The company said in a news release that officials made a final contract offer at 11:15 p.m. Tuesday, but union leaders were not satisfied. Bob Cene Jr., Astro Shapes vice president, said wages are the main sticking point.
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. Cene said workers base hourly rate is $13.10, with some jobs paying more.
Workers would have retained their current level of health benefits, the company said, with no employee contribution for premiums throughout the term of the pact.
"We based our decisions and our offer on what our local competitors are offering," Cene 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."
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."
Cene said the company's local competitors include: Indalex, a British-owned company which has plants in Canada, Girard and Niles; General Extrusions, with plants in Boardman and Leetonia; and Aerolite Extrusion in Youngstown.
Based in Struthers, Astro Shapes produces aluminum extrusions for the building and construction industry.
The company was founded in 1971 and employs 425, about 325 of whom are represented by Local 9401.