American Standard to offer its final contract proposal Thursday

SALEM — American Standard Brands plans to implement its final contract offer Thursday.

Representatives of United Steelworkers of America Local 1538 informed management they did not intend to call a vote on the pact and wanted to continue to negotiate a new agreement, said a company spokesman. The old pact expired Sept. 30.

In a statement, Paul Lee, the plant manager, said, “Our first priority always has been and continues now to be meeting our customers’ needs.”

The statement also says that employees are to come to work as normally scheduled.

Rick Hands, Local 1538, was not available for comment today.