Workers at the Wheatland Tube facility in Warren are considering a new contract offer from the company. 

The 140 workers are a part of the Steelworkers Union who has been negotiating with the owners of the facility since early September. 

“This is a different labor market,” Jose Arroyo, the United Steelworkers Union Representative said. “...Our members having to take on more tasks with shrinking places due to automation and other problems of course we’re looking for income security and job security.”

Wheatland Tube is owned by Zekelman Industries. The Warren facility opened back in 2022 and primarily makes sprinkler pipes and ships them nationwide.

On Friday, Arroyo sent a letter to all members saying they were at a standstill when “the company claimed they had no interest in continuing to negotiate … [and] had no interest in another extension.”

Arroyo said the union was asking for increased wages and continuation of their medical coverage at a low cost. 

48 hours after issuing that letter, Arroyo said the CEO of Zekelmen Industries took over the negotiations and the two sides came to a tentative agreement.

“Our relationship with the USW remains strong and we are look forward to a prosperous future with our teammates in Warren,” a spokesperson for Zekelman Industries told 21 News in a statement.  

“I believe overall that the package is a very, very good package. Historically this is one of the best packages ever offered,” Arroyo said.

Both sides could not tell 21 News the specifics of the agreement, only saying it’s a five year offer with “significant wage and benefit increases.”

The agreement will be presented to the workers to vote on. The union needs more than 50% to vote “yes” for it to be approved. That vote is expected to happen late this week before the current contract expires on Nov. 2. 

Arroyo indicated there's no interest in a strike right now and they’re confident they can get this done at the negotiation table.

“We will continue to bargain in good faith ... there's no interest right now to be at a place where we need to cause a disruption in work to affect the benefits of working people,” Arroyo said.