Thomas Steel Strip management and union wait it out

WARREN — Thomas Steel Strip has delayed a move to reduce its contract offer to striking workers, saying union leaders promised to provide a new offer.

Officials with United Steelworkers of America said they made no such promise and aren’t sure where Denny Wist, Thomas president and chief executive, got his information.

“If he’s waiting for me to give him a proposal, he’ll get old,” said Denny Brubaker, a Steelworkers staff representative.

Mike Boyle, president of Steelworkers Local 3253, said the proposal that Thomas has is the union’s “last and best offer.”

Wist said union leaders told executives Aug. 19 that they would provide a revised contract offer in two weeks.

Previously, Wist had said the company would trim its offer to the workers if they didn’t approve the company’s proposal by Aug. 31.

For more information, see Wednesday’s Vindicator or www.vindy.com.