USW inches closer to Titan contract vote

FREEPORT, Ill. — The United Steelworkers (USW) union seems to be getting closer to voting on a five-year labor agreement with Titan International Inc. covering three locals.

USW District 7 Director Mike Millsap had indicated May 1 that all remaining unresolved contract issues have been settled and will be sent to the negotiating committee by May 5 for review, according to a statement by USW Local 745 in Freeport.

The deal also covers Local 164 in Des Moines, Iowa, and Local 890 in Bryan, Ohio.

The union said May 13 is the tentative date set to present membership the changes to the contract. Dates for membership to vote on the contract have not been established.

The tentative deal provides wage increases of 1.5 percent in the final three years of the deal and keeps the health-care cost split at 80-20. No further details were provided.

Earlier statements on Local 745's website said Titan's previous offers did not include wage increases and increased the cost of health care in the final three years.

Titan and the USW reached a tentative, five-year labor agreement in March. The two sides had been operating under terms of the previous contract since it expired on Jan. 13.