(Merrillville, IN) - NIPSCO and United Steelworkers leadership have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract.

According to NIPSCO, the agreement is not official because it still has to be ratified by union employees of the company.  A two week lockout of 1,600 employees will remain in effect unless the deal is ratified.

Contract negotiations have been ongoing since January 20.  The prior contract expired March 31.

Details of the tentative settlement have not been disclosed. 

Among the major issues in the contract negotiations were the union’s request for double-time pay for hours beyond a regular work shift and settling on the number of continuous hours employees could be expected to work.