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"Long, Bitter Work Stoppage at RMI Titanium to End"
"NILES, Ohio -- The doors to RMI Titanium Co. are likely to be unlocked next week and union workers welcomed back to the plant now that a tentative agreement has been reached on a five-year contract.The settlement came last night following marathon talks that resumed Monday. A ratification vote is expected within the next few days.Locals 2155 and 2155-7 of the United Steelworkers of America were locked out of the RMI plant in October 2003 after their memberships rejected what the company said was its final offer. The stalemate broke this week after RMI said it would provide union workers vacation pay and reconvened contract talks. Union leaders said they would recommend passage of the tentative contract agreement.At a Nov. 10 news conference, Todd Weddell, Local 2155 president, said $3.5 million worth of concessions were on the table -- approximately $6,500 per worker -- and the union had agreed to concessions, manpower changes and other items amounting to $2.38 million.The union also reported it had requested the Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate whether RMI's parent company, RTI International Metals Inc., violated federal law in increasing compensation for officers and directors. Weddell said RTI's board voted to increase directors pay from $35,000 to $60,000 per year, costing shareholders an additional $200,000 annually, and didn't disclose that it had padded Rupert's pension by as much as $96,000 per year. The union settled its last contract with RMI in 1999 after an eight month strike. The plant employed 513 workers in 1998 but now is down to 265, according to Ray Raschilla, chairman of USWA Local 2155-7.RTI International Metals manufactures and distributes titanium and specialty metal mill products, extruded shapes, formed parts and engineered systems for industrial and consumer applications.Visit RTI International Metals Inc. at www.rtiintl.com"