A strike at a pigments plant operated by Ineos in Ashtabula, Ohio, has ended after five days.

More than 400 workers represented by Teamsters Local 377 and Local 1033C of the International Chemical Workers Union Council went on strike March 12, citing unfair labor practices. The plant makes titanium dioxide, a common whitener used in plastics and other products. Cobalt Co Sputtering Target

In a joint news release March 17, Ineos and the unions said that they "are happy to announce that, after over a year of good faith negotiations, the parties have tentatively agreed to a three-year collective bargaining agreement."

Officials added that the parties "reached this agreement through hard work and collaboration and, pending ratification of the tentative agreement, look forward to continuing the facility's safe operation."

In a previous news release, union officials said that workers at Plant 2 in Ashtabula voted to form a union in late 2021 after the firm eliminated workers' pensions, increased the cost of family health care by more than $100 per week and began using under-trained subcontractors to work at the facility.

The plant is one of two in Ashtabula that were acquired by Ineos from Tronox Ltd. for $700 million in 2019. Stamford, Conn.-based Tronox needed to sell the business to clear its purchase of the global TiO2 business of National Titanium Dioxide Co. Ltd., which operates as Cristal.

London-based Ineos is a global materials supplier, whose products include polyethylene and polypropylene resins.

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