Events Calendar
In This Section
Fees eat up gift-card balances
Can't find the hot new toy? Blame the economy
Stocks jump after G-20 pledge to aid economies
Framed for child porn -- by a PC virus
Strollers recalled for fingertip amputation hazard
Ohio gas prices down 8 cents from last week
Most Read Stories
Unusual sports bar to be sold at auction
Motorcyclist killed, wife injured in Stark County crash
Family found dead in Ohio home
Man says he was punched, robbed by 3 people in parking lot
Man gets 3 years in prison for having sex with horse
Bank helps more save their homes
Circle K on Brown Street robbed
Woman says clinic refused to help her get pregnant because she's not married
Blogs:
Pets:
Cats are trainable — and that's not a punchline
The Heldenfiles:
Monday Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
Time for Kokinis, Browns to agree and part ways
Akron Zips:
Zips tip off tomorrow
Tribe Matters:
Indians announce spring dates
Cleveland Browns:
Mangini doesn't name a quarterback
Kent State Sports:
KSU Notes – November 9
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Shaq: It’s All About Winning Championships
Buckeye Blogging:
Weekly ‘B’ Deck Report – New Mexico St.
Varsity Letters:
Walsh Jesuit’s Caponi commits to Duquesne
All Da King's Men:
If It Looks Like Islamic Terrorism…
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Dems Message To Women: Don't Enjoy The Sex
Akron Law Café:
Abortion Analogies
See Jane Style:
Muffle Your Muffler
Car Chase:
Clock Tender- Extending the Life of Collector Car Clocks
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Rumors: Akron Starbucks Closing
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Jack is looking for a trip to Southern Ohio the week of November 16.
Sound Check:
The Black Keys to perform benefit concert at Musica on November 27
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – Why People Do Not Live in Northeast Ohio
Akron Gamer:
New 'Call of Duty' could set entertainment record
Talks to begin next week as 220 Steelworkers hit picket line over unresolved contract issues
By Jim Mackinnon Beacon Journal business writer
Published on Thursday, Oct 04, 2007
Striking Steelworkers at the PTC Alliance Corp. steel tubing plant in Alliance and company officials have agreed to meet next week with a federal mediator.
Union and company negotiators will meet Oct. 10 at an Alliance hotel with a mediator, said Mike Johnson, president of United Steelworkers Local 3059.
Some 220 Steelworkers have been on strike since their contract expired at midnight Sunday. The strike is mainly over unresolved noneconomic issues, including contract language that would make sure workers retain jobs if the privately owned company is sold, Johnson said.
''We feel a sale is imminent,'' he said.
Indications include what Johnson called recent ''window-dressing'' improvements PTC Alliance made at the plant, saying the company had not invested much money into the facility the last several years.
The company declined to comment regarding Johnson's suspicions that it will be sold soon.
The union has sent a letter to the company saying it is willing to continue negotiations but has not heard back, Johnson said at one of the picket posts outside the plant.
''There's nobody who really wants to be out here,'' he said.
PTC Alliance, based north of Pittsburgh, issued a statement saying it had agreed to federal mediation. The union on Tuesday said it had been contacted by a mediator offering to help renew negotiations.
''We are committed to reaching a consensual agreement with the United Steelworkers that is in the best interest of the company, its employees, and its customers,'' Cary Hart, chief operating officer of PTC Alliance's North American Tubing business, said in a prepared statement. ''We trust the union has the same goal.''
The company said it is continuing production at the plant and continues to take in orders. The plant is being staffed with salaried employees. PTC Alliance has 10 other factories.
''Our management team at the (Alliance) plant is doing a great job ensuring orders are filled with the highest possible quality standards,'' Hart said. ''Orders continue to come in on a normal schedule and there have been no cancellations. It's business as usual at the Alliance, Ohio, plant.''
Jim Mackinnon can be reached at 330-996-3544 or jmackinnon@thebeaconjournal.com.
Striking Steelworkers at the PTC Alliance Corp. steel tubing plant in Alliance and company officials have agreed to meet next week with a federal mediator.
Get the full article here.
