Union at Hynes Industries rejects final and best offer

USWA Local 2377 represents 120 employees at the steel processor.
By KATIE LIBECCO
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- Union workers at Hynes Industries rejected what the company called its final and best offer by a 95-2 vote Saturday.
United Steelworkers of America Local 2377 represents 120 employees of the Oakwood Avenue company that cuts and shapes steel and wire.
Kirk Davies, a union representative, said he felt the amount of people who voted was a "pretty good showing," and said the 23 members who were unable to vote were either working or out of town.
Company president William Bresnahan could not be reached to comment.
"We're hopeful that the breadth of the vote will make the company a little more reasonable," Davies said.
He has contacted a federal mediator to set up a meeting with both parties. Davies said he expects that meeting to occur "fairly soon."
Still working
Meanwhile, he said employees will return to work as usual as negotiations continue.
Davies said the proposal included a plan that called for higher deductibles and more out-of-pocket health expenses, in addition to new co-payments.
The new co-payments would be $50 a month in the first year of the contract, but would increase to $90 a month by the third year.
The last contract between Hynes Industries and Local 2377 expired Nov. 1. Davies said no date has been set for the union to meet with the company with the federal mediator.