MARIETTA, Pa. (AP) — A central Pennsylvania ceilings plant has locked out its 260 unionized employees, saying they failed to vote on the latest contract proposal by the company's deadline.
Armstrong World Industries spokeswoman Jennifer Johnson told the (Lancaster) Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era that Sunday's decision regarding workers at the Marietta plant was taken "very reluctantly."
Union leader Joe Rumberger said he was "shocked but not surprised" by the action.
Unionized production and maintenance workers had kept working despite the June 1 expiration of their previous contract.
Leaders of Unit 441 of United Steelworkers Local 285 said there wasn't enough time to vote on the pact by the company's Saturday evening deadline.
On June 15, members voted 9-to-1 against a proposal the company called its "best and final offer."
