Strike delayed at Thomas Strip Steel

August 6, 2007 at 10:15p.m.

WARREN — Thomas Strip Steel’s 273 employees were on the verge of a strike Monday evening when the company and union agreed to an extension of the current contract. The company has promised to research alternative health plans and early retirement incentives while workers resume working, said Michael J. Boyle, United Steelworkers Local 3523 president. Employees had planned to being striking at midnight, he said.

“We’re going to continue to bargain and it’s going to take some time to get all the information back where we can both take a look,” he said. “We were ready to go. It got close to the last phone call.”

Dennis Wist, CEO of the company told The Vindicator earlier this week that the company has lost $28.7 million over the past six years. The company expects to lose $5.1 million in 2007, he said. Under the agreement, either party will be able to terminate the contact at any time, Boyle said.