Police said Giovanni Mafredimi left home four days earlier without saying where he was going, although it was not uncommon for him to disappear for days at a time. This time, however, his wife decided to look for him. On Sunday night, she walked through several neighborhoods before ending up at the parking lot about 30 blocks from her home, police said. The Mafredimis had immigrated from Sicily and moved to the neighborhood in the mid-1980s where they lived with a disabled son. Company officials told union leaders the plant was closed Monday, but official word is not expected until Wednesday.
Workers plan to continue the strike until then.
The statement did not address the status of Malta's 216 union workers, who have been on strike since Feb. 1. The plant also employs about 30 people in management. The members of Local 27B of the Glass Molders, Pottery and Plastics International Union voted 182-18 Saturday not to vote on a new contract proposal. They remained at odds with the company over seniority and sick days. Mike Alcock, president of Local 27B, said the plant could close as soon as Wednesday.