Economy

Federal Mediator to Meet With USW and ATI
Written by Sandy Williams
September 2, 2015
The USW plans to meet with Allegheny Technologies Inc. and a federal mediator in Pittsburgh on Sept. 11 and 12. ATI locked out its 2200 steelworkers August 15 after contract talks broke down.
The USW claims the lockout was unlawful and has been ”pursuing all legal remedies that are available.”
The union in communication with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services (FMCS) since the beginning of negotiations.
According to a union update, the USW has received no straight answer on whether ATI has modified their “Last, Best and Final Offer.”
“We have decided to meet again with ATI in an attempt to reason with the company and encourage them to step back from the destructive path they have chosen and bargain a fair agreement with the union,” said the USW.

Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Economy

Chicago Business Barometer falls back in April, remains in contraction
The Chicago Business Barometer declined in April, reversing March’s gains, according to Market News International (MNI) and the Institute for Supply Management (ISM).

Fewer manufacturers optimistic about the economy
PMA’s April report shows that only 16% of surveyed manufacturers anticipate an increase in economic activity in the next three months (down from 23% in March)

Architecture billings continue to slide in March
Architecture firms said billings continued to decline in March, according to the latest Architecture Billings Index (ABI) released by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and Deltek.

Beige Book shows concerns about trade policy
Manufacturing was mixed, but two-thirds of districts said activity was little changed or had declined.

New York state manufacturing index drops again in April
Firms were pessimistic, with the future general business conditions index falling to its second lowest reading in the more than 20-year history of the survey