Latrobe Specialty Negotiates Wage Re-opener with Local 1537
08/08/2011 - United Steelworkers’ Local 1537 overwhelmingly approved a tentative agreement with Latrobe Specialty Metals Co. on Saturday, July 30th.
Members of United Steelworkers’ Local 1537 overwhelmingly approved a tentative agreement with Latrobe Specialty Metals Co. on Saturday, July 30th.
The new agreement comprises approximately three and one-third percent annual wage increases for all hourly union employees over the 3-year life of the agreement. Pension, health care and all other benefits in the contract remain unchanged.
The previous agreement, which was set to expire on August 1st, 2013, contained a wage re-opener and the limited right to strike on August 1st, 2011 if an agreement on wages was not reached. This agreement ensures there will be no interruptions in production at the Latrobe, PA facility.
“We are very pleased at the result,” said B. Christopher DiSantis, President and CEO. “Our contract was set to expire in two years and we were able to agree on the addition of a third year. The increases reflect the value we place on our workers in Latrobe, who are some of the best in the entire metals industry.
“The additional year provides the union and the company with an additional year of certainty and predictability with respect to compensation and benefits,” added DiSantis. “With a signed contract in place, our customers can rest assured they will continue to get our complete focus on service and no disruption in the flow of supply.”
Latrobe Specialty Metals, in continuous operation in the same main location since 1913, supplies critical materials to the aerospace, defense, energy, hydrocarbon, medical and industrial steel sectors. The company employs over 900 people around the world.
