ISU members have been voting on the merger by way of mail-in ballot and those votes were tallied Saturday morning. The final numbers were 913 members in favor of the merger and 89 members against.

ISU president Mark Glyptis said with the shift from a domestic steel industry to a global steel industry, the merger is necessary.

"I am very proud of the response to the proposed merger. Our union leadership studied the issue for the past several months, held detailed discussions with USW District 1 Director Dave McCall and his staff and then took the issue to the members for a ratification vote," Glyptis explained.

ISU has been representing workers at Weirton Steel for 56-years and currently has 1,150 members. These members will now join 850,000 USW members.

Glyptis said the ISU members will become members of USW’s Local Union 2911 Sunday.

Also approved Saturday, a proposed re-organization of the union's six divisions into three divisions at the next scheduled union election in 2009.

Previous Stories: March 20, 2007: Proposed Steel Union Merger On Table March 20, 2007: Weirton Steelworkers Debate USW Merger March 7, 2007: Local Union May Merge With National Union