By Angela Hatton
Metropolis, IL – Officials at the Honeywell nuclear fuel plant in Metropolis plan to discontinue employee benefits if there isn't a contract agreement by October 31. Plant manager Larry Smith sent a letter to members of the local United Steel Workers union explaining the discontinuation date. Smith says the company has paid over 900-thousand dollars in benefits since the workers went on lock-out in late June. Smith says with forecasted operating losses of more than twenty million dollars this year, Honeywell can no longer afford to foot the bill for the union's life and health insurance. Contract negotiations resume Monday, and officials remain hopeful the two sides will reach a settlement.