A last, last-ditch effort to save Hamilton Specialty Bar

Steelworker union leaders will be making a last-ditch effort over the weekend to work out a deal with a bidder that would keep Hamilton Specialty Bar operating.

"We'll be in talks over the weekend and Monday," said United Steelworkers Local 4752 president Mickey Mercanti. "Hopefully we can get a deal done, because if not, on Wednesday, we're finished."

Either way, the union will be holding a meeting of the 200 or so workers who were called back in to the plant in January after the company suddenly shut down and went into receivership.

Mercanti hopes the meeting will include a ratification vote for union members on a deal to keep the company a going concern.

Aside from that, the only other deal on the table is a motion to liquidate the company, which is to be heard in court on March 14.

Beyond the unionized workers, most of whom have now been laid off, the company also employed about 50 salaried workers. Another 400 retired workers and their families are also affected by what happens to the company.

Mercanti said the union executives have been feeling the stress of trying to find a way to save their company and jobs. He's optimistic about the deal he's working on this weekend, but acknowledges the bidder faces challenges to research all the ins and outs of the company in a short timeframe.

"They have to do in three weeks what they usually have about three months to do," Mercanti said.

The meeting for workers will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Polish Alliance hall on Barton Street.