Contract talks to resume between 2,200 locked out United Steelworkers, Allegheny Technologies

Contract talks will resume this month between the United Steelworkers union and Allegheny Technologies Inc.

Allegheny Technologies has locked out roughly 2,200 workers at 12 plants in Pennsylvania and five other states.

The lockout began Aug. 15. The workers' last contract expired June 30.

Now the union says talks have been scheduled to resume Sept. 11 and 12.

A key issue is the company's demand that workers begin paying some of their health insurance premiums. Industry analysts say that's a precursor to a tax on employee health plans that's set to take effect in 2018 under the federal health care overhaul.

The company has western Pennsylvania operations in Bagdad, Brackenridge, Latrobe, Midland, Vandergrift and Washington.