NEW HAVEN — The United Steelworkers have spoken out about the new 42-month contract it recently ratified on behalf of Local Union 5171 with Felman Production, LLC.

According to the USW, negotiations started in October and continued to the final deadline of Dec. 17, 2012. Both parties agreed to extend the agreement and to continue to bargain in good faith, and for the union workers to continue to work and meet customer demands. The extension was set to end Jan. 4, 2013, for the purpose of time to explain and ratify the proposed contract agreement. The Local Union committee met with the membership to present the proposal on Dec. 21, and it was voted on and ratified Dec. 28, 2012.

According to a statement released by the USW, the International Union, the Local Union and the company have worked well together to build a secure future for Felman, saying, “We plan to continue to work together as a team to be successful in being one of two plants in the United States that make ferrosilicomanganese.”

The USW have been at this facility for 60 years and have been through several owners in that time. The Union now has 214 members, and it states it hopes to continue to grow with the company.

Felman bought the New Haven plant in 2006, and the Union has been through three contracts since then. According to the USW, so far, all the contracts have been ratified without any work stoppage or strikes.

The Local Union committee expressed its gratitude to the International Steelworkers Staff Representative, Denny Longwell, who participated in the negotiations with the local union committee and District 8 Director, Billy Thompson, for their support and efforts in securing the union’s future at Felman Production.

According to the Union, this is one example where the employer and the union can, and do, work together in the best interest of all.