Steel producer, USW reach five-year labor deal. Page

Universal Stainless & Alloy Products Inc. and the United Steelworkers union announced this week a new five-year labor contract that improves wages and benefits for about 245 employees at a Bridgeville production facility.

Jim Watt, a USW staff representative, said the new contract strengthens health care and pension contributions, while preserving other perks like vacation scheduling, seniority rankings and the right for workers to bid on job openings or move up through the ranks at the plant.

Mr. Watt said the new contract, bargained by USW Local 9531, secured annual wage increases of $1 an hour for the first year, 35 cents in the second year, 30 cents in the third year, 35 cents in the fourth year and 30 cents in the fifth year.

The collective bargaining agreement was ratified by the bargaining unit and will be effective retroactively to Sept. 1, when the

prior labor agreement was scheduled to expire. The workers agreed to work under a contract extension while negotiations continued.

“We are pleased that we have a new labor agreement at our Bridgeville facility that is in the best interests of our employees, customers and shareholders,” Dennis Oates, president and chief executive officer, said in a press release. The company pointed out it agreed to keep profitsharing incentives contained in the prior agreement. A call to Mr. Oates was not returned. The Bridgeville-based company produces specialty steel products, including stainless steel and aircraft-quality alloy steels, according to its website. Its products are sold to service centers, forgers and equipment manufacturers in a variety of industries, including aerospace, power generation, oil and gas and heavy equipment manufacturing.

Universal Stainless shares were down about 1 percent in midday trading.