REGION

REGION
Electrical workers unionOKs national Delphi pact
WARREN -- The International Union of Electrical Workers said a new national labor contract with Delphi Corp. was approved by 94 percent of the votes cast.
The four-year agreement covers about 10,000 Delphi workers, including about 4,000 at Warren-based Delphi Packard Electric Corp.
It provides bonuses in the first two years and wage increases of 2 percent and 3 percent in the final two years. The deal includes a moratorium on plants closings, but Michigan-based Delphi said the contract includes an agreement to reduce through retirements and incentive-based attrition programs.
FirstEnergy upgrade plan
COLUMBUS -- The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio ordered FirstEnergy Corp. to submit a plan to upgrade equipment that was blamed for contributing to the Aug. 14 blackout. The plan is due by March 1.
Four Sprint workersin Warren are laid off
WARREN -- Four Sprint employees in Warren have been furloughed as part of a corporate restructuring that will eliminate 2,000 workers, 3 percent of the company's work force, by Jan. 1.
Stephanie Shaw, a Sprint spokeswoman in Warren, said one employee was laid off at the company's South Park Avenue office and three were laid off from its Elm Road office. She said Sprint employs about 270 in the Youngstown-Warren area.
Pro-steel tariff Web siteup and running, Dann says
LIBERTY -- A new Web site allows those supporting tariffs on imported steel to send messages to President Bush and other government officials.
State Sen. Marc Dann of Liberty, D-32nd, announced the site at www.toughtariffs.org today. He said he developed the site with Costarella Innovations of Girard.
Other Ohio legislators also will be encouraging people in their districts to use the site, he said. Bush is considering lowering or dropping the tariffs because of international pressure. Dann said, however, that they are helping WCI Steel in Warren and other steel producers reorganize after being hurt by unfair foreign competition.
From Vindicator staff and wire reports