Weirton union votes to join United Steelworkers

March 31, 2007 at 2:51p.m.

WEIRTON, W.Va. (AP) — Joining the much larger United Steelworkers proved popular with union employees at the Weirton division of Mittal Steel Co.

The 1,150-member Independent Steelworkers Union has voted 913-to-89 in favor of merging with the USW, the union said today. As of midnight, they became members of United Steelworkers Local 2911.

ISU President Mark Glyptis said the merger improves benefits for members and protection for retirees, who now are eligible for a USW retiree group with 65,000 members.