WHEATLAND, PA. Steelworkers union rejects company's 'final' proposal

The company negotiator said there has been no talk about closing the plant.
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.
Bill Kerins, vice president of operations for the company, said a meeting has been scheduled for Sept. 23.
Kerins, the company's chief negotiator, said there has been no talk about closing the Wheatland pipe plant in light of the 20-week strike, which has hampered production.
"That's not even been discussed," Kerins said.
Wheatland Tube remains committed to meeting customer orders and has sent some of its work to facilities it operates in Sharon, Warren and Little Rock, Ark., he said.
Picketing
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. The company had hoped the union membership would approve the terms of a "final" contract offer Sunday.
"We're very disappointed that it wasn't ratified, and the 20-week strike will continue for an indefinite period," Kerins said.
It appears that a lot of the employees want to return to work, he said. The strike has hurt the local economy, and the economy of Wheatland Tube families has suffered as a result of the work stoppage, he said.
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.
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.