Contract is likely to be ratified, most members of union say



Earlier this week, workers elected a new local president.
By ED RUNYAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Most workers emerging from their 21/2-hour union meeting at United Steelworkers Union Local 1375 hall seemed to think that a contract they will be asked to ratify next week will pass.
Union leaders who came through those same doors made it clear that they had done their best to persuade workers to take that step to keep people working at WCI.
"I think it's the best opportunity for WCI to come out of bankruptcy. We think it sets the stage for the company to not be always low on cash to run the company in a very cyclical industry," said Dave McCall, the union's District 1 director and chairman of the WCI bargaining committee.
Earlier in the week, the stage seemed to be set for revolt against the contract when workers voted 466 to 423 to replace 1375 Local President Mike Rubicz with Ed Machingo. Rubicz said he believes the vote was backlash for his support of the contract.
"I stood up and said what I thought about the contract, and a lot of other people ducked and ran," Rubicz said of a union meeting two weeks ago where he last talked about the contract. He said at Friday's informational meeting he saw a lot of union leaders giving out information on the contract who were not on board with it before.
Other details
If the majority of the 1,250 WCI union members approve the contract next Friday, the agreement would go into effect April 30 and last 18 months. WCI filed for bankruptcy in September 2003 and reached a deal in U.S. Bankruptcy Court on March 15 for the company's note-holders to take control of the company from The Renco Group, which has owned the company for about 18 years.
The tentative contract would reduce job classifications and give up to 250 workers buyouts of $50,000. Workers would receive full pension benefits, and retirees would continue receiving paid medical insurance.
Worker Joseph Holko, 54, of Warren said his impression of the contract was that it was promising, and he felt that it would be approved. "A lot of younger guys are worried about having a job," the 27-year veteran said.
Like most workers, he said the health-care plan in the contract will cost most workers more money, especially those who use health care a great deal. The annual out-of-pocket limit will double under the contract from $500 per individual to $1,000 and from $1,000 per family to $2,000.
What workers said
Tom Hyden of Austintown said he thinks the pact causes some dissension between the younger workers and older ones, who will qualify for retirement benefits while returning to their jobs -- known as "double-dipping."
"You can be mad at them for double-dipping, but if they can work and get the [retirement] money, more power to them," said 28-year-old Mike Gonzalez of Hubbard, who has worked at the plant six years.
"If you vote it down, they could come back with something worse," said Gonzalez, a father of two with another child on the way. He added that the health-care plan in the proposal is the standard in the industry.
Willis West, 48, of McDonald said he would consider the contract to be concessionary relative to health care. "They're making money, so that's kind of hard to take," he said. He said his wife, Tina, and daughter, Brooke, also work for WCI, and he believes the contract will pass.
Sterling Frazier, a member of the negotiating team, said if members are unhappy with the contract in 18 months, there will be a chance to change it. "The thing is to keep this place going," he said. "We have a lot of younger members. They have bills to pay. They can't afford to be on the street."

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