Niles glass plant workers return to jobs

NILES — Employees who walked off the job Thursday at the General Electric Mahoning Glass Plant are back at work, said their union steward.

Dennis Hayda, steward for United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America Local 751, said an agreement was reached Friday evening with plant management to continue negotiations on grievances.

The union was set to vote at 2 p.m. Saturday as the end of the 48-hour walkout approached. The union was going to decide whether to stay out or go back in, but that was not necessary.

The 125 workers affected were back in the plant by 4 p.m. Saturday, and operations were at full production, Hayda said.

Hayda said the issues that prompted the walkout include vacation time, seniority and procedures the plant uses to fill jobs during shutdown periods.

“If a whole department isn’t needed, who works and who doesn’t? It’s a complex issue,” he said.

The plant at 401 N. Main St. manufactures and presses glass. Workers who walked out run furnaces and presses, do inspections and handle materials, he Hayda added.