The United Steelworkers (USW) at RG Steel ratified a new contract—and more news from the “Bargaining Digest Weekly.” The AFL-CIO Collective Bargaining Department delivers daily, bargaining-related news and research resources to more than 1,300 subscribers. Union leaders can register for this service through our website, Bargaining@Work.

SETTLEMENTS
USW, RG Steel: The United Steelworkers ratified a new agreement with North America successor RG Steel that covers some 6,000 workers at five facilities in Ohio, Maryland and West Virginia.

ATU, Twin Cities Metro Transit: In Minnesota’s Twin Cities, members of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1005 ratified a new two-year contract with Metro Transit. The deal covering 2,250 bus drivers, light rail workers, mechanics and office workers freezes wages but maintains current health benefits.

USW, International Paper: Members of 15 USW locals ratified a four-year master agreement with International Paper last week.  The contract provides wage increases, as well as 401(k) and pension improvements for 6,000 workers.

USW, NewPage Corp.: After working without a contract since last July, members of USW Local 900 approved a new five-year contract with NewPage Corp. The deal covers some 750 workers at the paper mill in Rumford, Maine.

WORK STOPPAGES
NNU-CNA, Children’s Hospital Oakland: Registered nurses at Children’s Hospital Oakland in California are on the final day of a five-day strike today. A year of negotiations has failed to produce a new contract. The more than 700 members of the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU) have been working without a contract since last July and held a three-day strike in October.

NEGOTIATIONS
UFCW, Multiple supermarket chains: Talks will resume between the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) and Vons, Ralphs and Albertsons supermarket chains for a new contract covering 60,000 grocery workers in Southern California. The current contract expired in March but is being extended until either side ends it with a 72-hour notice.

NNU-MNA, St. Vincent Hospital: A one-day strike by 740 members of the Massachusetts Nurses Association-NNU (MNA-NNU) at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester was averted when the two sides reached a tentative three-year deal. If ratified, the contract will be retroactive to January 2010 and will reduce the number of patients per nurse.

UTU, National Carriers’ Conference Committee: The United Transportation Union (UTU) has reached a tentative four-year agreement with the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC), made up of the major U.S. freight railroads. The deal would cover 38,000 workers and be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2010. Other unions comprising two labor coalitions remain in mediated talks with the NCCC.

MNA-NNU, Tufts University Hospital: The MNA-NNU reached a tentative 18-month agreement with Tufts Medical Center just hours ahead of a strike deadline. The deal calls for a 2 percent wage increase for the 1,100 nurses but fails to address safe staffing ratios.

Disclaimer: This information is being provided for your information only.  As it is compiled from published news reports, not from individual unions, we cannot vouch for either its completeness or accuracy; readers who desire further information should directly contact the union involved.