For as much uncertainty as a strike can bring to workers and their families, one group of faithful is showing striking steelworkers in Farrell that they do, indeed, have a prayer.

"We have a few members of our church who work for NLMK, so it affects us," says Rev. Terry Harrison, pastor of Valley Baptist Church. "We're going to be believe together that God is going to put a plan together to help these men and women get back to work."

Reverend Harrison called Wednesday's parking lot prayer in the midst of a strike by United Steelworkers employees at NLMK.
They've been on the picket lines for almost three weeks - upset with a walking beam furnace project that should've been finished two years ago - and the health care plan they say the company is pushing them into.

"We want a reasonable choice on the price of everything too, not jacking up the price of the PPO like they want to do it," said union president Jim Wells.

Right now, the monthly premium is $185; after four years it would increase to $385 and be capped there.
The union says that increase will come in increments of $50 instead of the $10 increments in place now.

Tuesday night, the company argued in a lengthy statement that its high deductible plan has been an option since the 2012 contract, so its inclusion in current negotiations should not be a surprise.

"They want to say how good it is, if that's the case, why hasn't all the membership switched over to that?" said Wells.

But while the union is preparing a formal written response to the company's claims, Reverend Harrison and his congregation are leaning on their faith that someone else will have the final say.