Tribune Chronicle reported that the president of United Steelworkers Local 1375 is repaying the local about USD 5,095 he received in wages when then Severstal Warren steel mill was idled.

Mr Ed Machingo said that "I'm paying it in two installments. I've already paid back half."

The ruling by the union's International Executive Board Appeal Panel was the last of three decisions. Mr Machingo won the first one but lost the second two. The dispute stemmed from the mill shutdown in 2009 due to a global credit crunch.

Mr Machingo said the labor agreement calls for officers to be retained at the lowest rated job in the unit they represent.

Mr Machingo said he was rated at labor grade 3 when he took office, but the lowest in his unit was 2. However, he said he based his pay on the fact that, as president, he represents the entire mill.

Mr Machingo insisted that he paid himself correctly, noting his pay at the time was voted on by the local, which pays what the company would provide. He added that "I'm not guilty of anything, but I have to live with the ruling."

(Sourced from www.tribtoday.com)