CANADA

CANADA

Tentative pact reached with Ford in Canada

TORONTO — Canadian Autoworkers president Buzz Hargrove said Monday his union has agreed to the outline of a tentative three-year contract from Ford Motor Co.

The union said the deal freezes wages and cuts vacation pay but avoids changes to base wages. It also prevents a two-tier wage system where new hires would be paid about half the hourly wages of older employees. However, new hires start work at 70 percent of the top wage, reaching the maximum three years later.

REGION

WCI Steel increases borrowing capacity

WARREN — WCI Steel said it has increased the borrowing capacity by $25 million to $175 million. The company has $127.5 million borrowed and more than $20 million in cash.

Leonard Anthony, company president and chief executive, said the move gives WCI more financial flexibility and demonstrates the commitment of the lenders that own the company. He said the mill is operating at full capacity because of a strong market for steel.

NATION

Merger of airlines to be announced soon

CHICAGO — United Airlines and US Airways are in very advanced talks and expect to announce within weeks that they are combining, two people familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Monday.

Putting the two carriers together would create an airline that would jockey with a combined Delta-Northwest for the title of world’s largest airline.

Staff and wire reports