August 29, 2008

Latrobe rejects striking workers\' offer to return

The Pittsburgh Tribune Review reported that Latrobe Special Steel Co has rejected an offer from its striking steelworkers to unconditionally return to work and resume bargaining, saying that could expose the company to intermittent strikes or other disruptions.

The United Steelworkers Local 1537 on Thursday night offered to return to work immediately under the terms of the expired contract and removed its pickets at the company. The union's offer came after the union voted Thursday night to return to work without the conditions set by the company. A majority of members at the meeting in Latrobe voted to resume working, but Caruso declined to release the vote count. The union's offer did not include a condition that the 360 workers remain on the job under a three month extension of the old contract.

Mr Kevin Caruso president of Local 1537 said "I believed all along, the company did not want to bargain in good faith.”


Mr Caruso added that "We have made this offer to return to work and show we are willing to try to settle differences with the company. Management has rejected this offer, which shows that they care little about their customers and instead appear to be intent on picking a fight with this union and punishing its employees. Our members understand, and management should also understand, that the Steelworkers will continue its struggle until we are able to bargain a fair agreement."

The 360 member local union called a strike at the plant May 1 when the previous labor agreement expired. Significant issues included hourly pay rates, pension and insurance benefits and union efforts to maintain equal standards for newly hired workers. Management withdrew its final offer shortly after the strike began and has yet to present a new offer for the workers' consideration.