By Angela Hatton
Metropolis, IL – Fewer union workers will likely be returning to work when the local Metropolis United Steel Workers and Honeywell corporation reach a contract settlement. Representatives of both sides begin their second day of resumed talks this morning. USW Local 7-669 has been on lockout for seven months. President Darrell Lillie says the union started with around 220 workers.
"Around 20 people have found other jobs. And a lot of them's not coming back they say. Got fortunate and found other jobs, and the way they talk they're going to stay where they're at."
Lillie says morale among the remaining workers is still good. Honeywell spokesman Peter Dalpe says the possibility of fewer union members does not affect the company's proposals because those jobs may still need to be done, and may be filled with new union employees. Dalpe says Honeywell's proposals are focused on how work is done in the plant, not who is working there.