Steelworkers Ratify New Contract with Republic
09/28/2007 - Members of the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers Union ratify a new five-year labor contract with Republic Engineered Products, Inc.
Members of the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers Union have ratified a new five-year labor contract with Republic Engineered Products, Inc.
Based on a new partnership between Republic and the Union, the new contract covers nearly 2000 production, maintenance, office, technical employees at Republic's Canton, Lorain and Massillon, Ohio; Gary, Ind.; and Lackawanna, N.Y., operations. The agreement provides employees with improved wages and benefits while maintaining the company’s flexibility to address changing market conditions.
"We're pleased that our employees have ratified this new contract, and look forward to a positive new partnership with the Union in order to improve quality, eliminate waste and satisfy our customers," said Jaime Vigil, President and CEO.
"We have the most experienced and skilled employees in the industry, and they are key to our continued success. We are now well-positioned to continue moving forward with our strategic initiatives to maintain our leadership position in the SBQ industry."
Union and company negotiators initiated negotiations in May 2007, and reached a tentative agreement Aug. 16. Union members reviewed the tentative agreement reached last month with their local and international negotiating committees before voting by mail in the secret ballot election.
The new labor contract runs through Aug. 15, 2012.
Republic Engineered Products is a leading North American supplier of special bar quality (SBQ) steel. With headquarters in Fairlawn, Ohio, the company operates steelmaking centers in Canton and Lorain, Ohio, and value-added rolling and finishing facilities in Canton, Lorain and Massillon, Ohio; Lackawanna, N.Y.; Gary, Ind.; and Hamilton, Ont. Republic employs approximately 2500 people.
With 850,000 members, the USW is the largest industrial union in North America.
