WHEATLAND, PA. Steelworkers union rejects new proposal

Health care and changes for new employees continue to be major stumbling blocks.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
WHEATLAND, Pa. -- Striking Steelworkers at Wheatland Tube are staying on the picket line.
Members of Local 1660 of the United Steelworkers of America rejected what was supposed to be the company's final offer for a contract during a secret ballot Sunday.
The vote was 230-184, said Dom Vadala, chief negotiator for the union.
"They're not satisfied," Vadala said of the union membership, adding that the union negotiating team immediately informed the company of the results of the vote and asked that negotiations resume next week.
No immediate bargaining schedule was set, he said.
The 470 members of Local 1660 walked off their jobs April 28 with the expiration of their old contract.
They've been on the picket lines ever since, making it the longest strike in company history.
The company has been able to resume some production and shipping by using management employees to run the shops, a move that angered striking workers.
Back to bargaining
Vadala said the company had suggested that the union bargaining team was holding up a settlement by not allowing the membership to consider proposals for settlement.
Vadala said the negotiating team is doing exactly as the membership wants, as evidenced by Sunday's vote.
"It's back to the bargaining table," he said.
He said he believes the company wanted the union on strike for a long time because it saved Wheatland Tube "a ton of money" by not having to pay its workers.
Vadala said the rejection was over the same issues that caused the strike in the first place: health care costs and unequal treatment for new employees.
In the former category, the company has insisted that workers pick up a share of their health care premiums, and in the latter, new employees wouldn't get a defined pension plan but would be offered only a 401(k) savings plan with a company contribution.
Contract proposal
The package presented for membership consideration Sunday required workers to contribute $50 per month toward insurance premiums and reduced their health care package from 100 percent coverage to a 95-5 plan that would have workers paying the first 5 percent of health care costs up to a maximum of $500 for single employees and $1,000 for families.
Co-payments for prescriptions and doctor visits would increase.
The proposal included hourly wage increases of 40 cents in the first year, 30 cents in the second and 50 cents in the third.