Universal Stainless contract talks extended

Bridgeville, Pennsylvania-based Universal Stainless & Alloy Products Inc. says its management has agreed with Local 2332-2 of the United Steelworkers (USW) to undertake a 17-day continuance of the collective bargaining agreement covering hourly production and maintenance employees at its North Jackson, Ohio, facility.

That plant in northeast Ohio “melts vacuum induction melting (VIM) quality specialty steel and nickel alloy products, as well as doing VAR remelting,” says Universal. The facility also operates a hydraulic radial forge that produces bars and forged blocks. The company also has a scrap-fed melt shop in Bridgeville.

Universal says the negotiating extension is subject to a seven-day termination notice by either party. The intent of the continuance is to provide additional time to negotiate a mutually acceptable labor agreement, says the metals company.

During the continuance, USW employees will work under the terms and conditions of the prior agreement, which otherwise would have expired at midnight this June 30.

The company says its facilities in Bridgeville and Titusville, in Pennsylvania and in Dunkirk, New York, are covered by separate collective bargaining agreements and are not directly affected by the Ohio negotiations.

“We are pleased to extend the negotiating timeframe to allow for a mutually agreeable labor agreement without disruption to the operations and to continue to serve our customers’ needs,” comments Christopher M. Zimmer, president and CEO of Universal.