By Angela Hatton
Metropolis, IL – The United Steel Workers and Honeywell Corporation in Metropolis have again failed to reach a consensus on a new contract. The company rejected the Union's proposal to change the pay structure to prevent employees from compounding premium pay like overtime. Local USW President Darrell Lillie believes the company doesn't want to make a deal with the union.
"The company didn't make any proposals, not even a counter to ours. They just rejected it. In fact, the company hasn't made any counter offers to any of the union proposals since about June 28."
Lillie believes the company does not want to bargain until the market price of the uranium product they produce, uranium-hexafluoride, increases. Honeywell spokesman Peter Dalpe says that isn't true. It is unclear whether talks will resume Wednesday. Lillie says representatives will be back at the table at 8 AM, but Dalpe says a union spokesman indicated USW would not bargain Wednesday.