Negotiations are continuing daily as the expiration of the United Steelworkers labor contract with ArcelorMittal approaches, a union official said.
The pact is set to expire at 11:59 p.m. Saturday. United Steelworkers officials have said the sticking points come with the company's demands for concessions, including creating a two-tier wage and benefit structure.
Negotiations have been under way for several months.
An ArcelorMittal spokeswoman confirmed Thursday "continuous dialogue'' and said the company remains optimistic about reaching a fair and equitable contract with the USW without a work stoppage. She declined to release any details of the discussion topics.
In case of a work stoppage, however, the company is taking a precautionary measure of ''asset preservation steps'' at its facilities, she said.
''We trust that our employees will remain focused on safely performing their job functions and not allow negotiations to serve as a distraction,'' the spokeswoman said.
Union officials have urged employees to go to work as planned.
ArcelorMittal operates the Warren Coke plant on Main Avenue S.W. which employs about 125 workers.