Representatives from Sherwin Alumina and the United Steel Workers met this week for negotiations over the now two months old lockout at the plant in Gregory. Tuesday and Wednesday's meeting did not go well at all according to both sides.

Earlier this year, 98 percent of the union members at the plant voted down a final offer from Sherwin Alumina. Since then 450 people haven't returned to work.

A release from Sherwin Alumina says representatives came to the meeting with several ideas on how to address concerns over health care benefits, but the union "made no new proposals, ideas or suggestions, although they did make a demand to end the lockout."

The company states the offer made to union members would increase wages and benefits by more than $4 million over the next four years. A union member who spoke to KRIS 6 News earlier this year told us if the contract officer is accepted, he would lose $65,000 in wages.

This afternoon, the United Steel Worker fired back at the Sherwin Alumina for the meetings. "The company came to the table with a proposal that made only token progress and flatly refused the USW's proposal to end the lockout in the spirit of the holidays, as we continue to negotiate."

According to the union, no further negotiations are scheduled. This week's meetings were called for by the Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service.