American Standard, union discuss health care

staff report

SALEM — Striking workers at American Standard Brands may see more jobs moved permanently.

Company managers met Wednesday with officials of the United Steelworkers of America Local 1538.

According to a company statement, the union’s bargaining committee presented an alternative health-care proposal.

The company said the union proposal included loss figures that were “substantially less” than the company’s information from its medical provider.

The company said that to meet customer demand, it plans to hire temporary replacement workers at the Salem facility.

On Tuesday, the company moved more of its acrylic products and steel bathtubs to a facility in Stratford, Ontario, Canada.

The company said that the additional production move is meant to be temporary. If the move becomes permanent, it could mean the loss of 20-25 jobs.

The company announced Oct. 22 that it moved some of the plant’s higher-volume acrylics products to a plant in Mexico.

That move resulted in the permanent reduction of 20-30 jobs from the Salem plant.

Union leaders could not be reached.