By Mike Boyer
The Cincinnati Enquirer

BATESVILLE, Ind. - The United Steelworkers of America staged a rally outside Batesville Casket Co. Monday afternoon to call attention to its stalemated negotiations with the unit of Hillenbrand Industries Inc.

Steelworkers Local 525, which has about 430 members among Batesville's 700 employees, has been working without a contract since May 2, when its six-year agreement expired.

Joe Weigel, spokesman for Batesville Casket, said the company presented its last contract offer April 30, but the union hasn't voted on it.

Bob Wessel, president of Local 525, said the company's four-year proposal was presented to union members May 3, but the members would not vote on it, calling it unacceptable. He said union members are continuing to work, although they could strike.

Weigel declined to outline the company proposal, but Wessel said the main sticking points were the company's refusal to include language about possible outsourcing of jobs; an employee contribution to their health insurance; and an increase in pension benefits.

He said the union members also were opposed to lump-sum bonuses in lieu of larger increases in hourly pay in the contract.

Union members, their families, political figures and union officials participated in the rally.

Wessel said the union is seeking another meeting with the company on the contract negotiations but has been told that no meeting is possible until next month. Local 525 also has about 500 members among the 700 employees at Hillenbrand's Hill-Rom hospital bed unit, also in Batesville. That plant's labor agreement doesn't expire until January.

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