Republic Engineered, 2000 workers reach deal

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8R2DRAO0.htm

The Associated Press August 16, 2007, 7:26PM ET

CLEVELAND

About 2,000 workers at Republic Engineered Products steel plants in three states avoided a strike by reaching a tentative contract agreement, the company and the United Steelworkers union said Thursday.

Details of the agreement, reached during negotiations in Pittsburgh, were not disclosed, pending a review by workers. But the union said it includes wage increases, an improved profit sharing plan, a continuation of fully paid health care coverage and an added paid holiday.

A five-year contract had expired Wednesday at midnight.

Republic Engineered Products, based in Fairlawn, Ohio, about 30 miles south of Cleveland, makes bar steel used primarily in motor vehicles, appliances and machinery.

The USW represents company workers at five plants -- in Canton, Massillon and Lorain in Ohio; Lackawanna, N.Y., and Gary, Ind.

Jaime Vigil, Republic Engineered's president and CEO, said the tentative agreement "truly serves the best interests of everyone involved. Our goal was to come to an agreement that is fair to both sides."