By Angela Hatton
Metropolis, IL – A negotiation stalemate continues between United Steel Workers union representatives and Honeywell officials. Last night, Honeywell locked over 220 union workers out of its Metropolis nuclear fuel plant, and turned over operations to temporary and salaried workers. District USW negotiation coordinator Mike Mezo claims Honeywell officials want to take away employee pensions and cut healthcare benefits.
"They want to contract out about 20-percent of the jobs to contract workers, strip seniority rights, take away time and a half for overtime. They just have a list of concessions that they want to roll back the clock on."
Honeywell officials say they remain willing to negotiate. However, in a written statement, plant manager Larry Smith says "a new agreement is unlikely any time soon." Mezo says USW does not have plans to strike. Honeywell continues to supply health care and life insurance benefits to union families. The lockout last night also means workers may seek unemployment benefits from the state of Illinois.