SMETHPORT (EC) -ðMembers of Local 10-607 of the United Steel
Workers, who have been on strike for several days at the
International Waxes Inc., plant in Farmers Valley, met Thursday
night to consider a proposal that came out of a bargaining session
earlier in the day.

Dale Parry, human resources leader at the Farmers Valley
facility, told The Era “the two parties put together an offer that
the union leaders agreed to take back to the rank and file for a
vote.”

Duane Connolly, president of the union local, who was contacted
Thursday prior to the meeting, said “We plan to pass out the offer
to our members tonight during a meeting at 8 p.m. at the Smethport
American Legion.”

According to Connolly, the local union membership is to vote on
the offer at a 4 p.m. meeting today.

Parry said Tuesday that company and union officials had
negotiated contracts over the last few weeks; employees’ contracts
expired at midnight Tuesday. Union members have been picketing
since then.

Meanwhile, about 15 members of the management staff have
maintained minimal operations at the plant.

The International Group Inc., bought the refinery – previously
owned by Honeywell International -ðlast May. Of the 121 workers at
the plant, 29 are salaried and 92 paid hourly; those being the
employees represented by the union.