By Gary Pitts
Metropolis, IL – Negotiators for Honeywell and the United Steelworkers have reached a tentative agreement on a new three-year contract. The parties, however, agreed to remain at the bargaining table to separately negotiate a return to work plan that would ensure the orderly transition of work from the plant's temporary workforce to the union hourly employees. Yesterday's tentative agreement remains subject to union ratification. Union Steelworkers Local spokesman John Paul Smith says this is one step closer to ending the lock-out, but much remains to be done and negotiators must work together to reach a final agreement.