By Angela Hatton
Metropolis, IL – The United Steel Workers in Metropolis and Honeywell corporation had planned to continue bargaining today, but the union broke off talks shortly after they began this morning. Honeywell and USW are locked in a contract dispute that began last June. Over two-hundred union members have been on work stoppage for nearly a year. The sides resumed negotiations yesterday, and representatives say talks were productive. The major issue left to resolve is overtime pay. Honeywell spokesman Peter Dalpe says the company is pushing for simplified rules. An employee would earn overtime after working more than 40 hours in a week. Dalpe says under the old system, an employee could manipulate hours to look like overtime, and earn more money. USW Staff Representative Mike Mezo says the union proposed a solution, which would eliminate manipulation. He says the company accepted the proposal yesterday, but this morning rejected it without explanation. Dalpe says the company evaluated the approach and decided it would not work. New negotiation dates haven't been decided.