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Latrobe Specialty Steel To Resume Talks With Union

Steel maker scheduled to resume contract talks on Thursday with United Steelworkers Local 1537 members for the first time since the workers went on strike May 1.

LATROBE, Pa. (AP) -- Latrobe Specialty Steel Co. is scheduled to resume contract talks on Thursday for the first time since the workers went on strike May 1.

Union officials say a federal mediator called the two sides together.

In addition to not agreeing on a contract, the company and United Steelworkers Local 1537 disagree whether the workers are locked out and entitled to unemployment benefits.

The union says about 350 workers are locked out because the company rejected their offer to return to work last week. Company spokeswoman Lisa Pierce says, ''That's not the company's opinion.''

Union members oppose the company's offer of $16,000 in salary bonuses per worker over three years while freezing hourly wages and cost of living adjustments.

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