Thomas Steel Strip workers on strike

WARREN — Workers at Thomas Steel Strip went on strike this morning after working with a contract for nearly a year.

A meeting between company and union officials with a mediator last week didn’t produce any progress, said Dennis Brubaker, a staff representative for United Steelworkers of America. The contract for Local 3523, which has about 260 members, expired Aug. 1.

Brubaker said the union is unhappy with the company’s wage offer and wants to guarantee that Thomas must bargain with the union before changing health care insurance for retirees. Union officials are upset about some changes that were made in retiree health care in 2005, he said.

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