U.S. Steel cutting jobs in Pittsburgh, elsewhere

U.S. Steel has begun terminating nonunion employees in Pittsburgh and other locations, but isn't saying how many positions have been eliminated so far or how deep the cuts will go.

Several positions in the company's public affairs office in U.S. Steel Tower were eliminated last week, spokesman Mike Dixon said. About 30 nonunion positions at the steelmaker's Mon Valley plants also were eliminated last month.

The cuts will help the company realize minimum annual savings of $200 million from its acquisition of National Steel in May. They will be accomplished through retirement, layoffs and attrition.

Retirement incentives are being offered to union members under terms of the company's new contract with the United Steelworkers union. Dixon said most of the cuts will be made by year-end.

UPMC to appeal ruling on pharmacies

UPMC Health Plan said it would appeal a Common Pleas Court decision that said it had no right to unilaterally reduce its reimbursements to pharmacies in an attempt to recover amounts it claims it had earlier overpaid them due to a processing error. The July 28 ruling stemmed from a lawsuit filed nearly a year ago in which 16 pharmacists complained that UPMC was illegally docking their payments. More than 60 other pharmacists later joined the suit.

Hartman product gets nod in Pa., N.Y.

Hartman Products of O'Hara said its end-wall system for drainage pipe construction has been approved for use by the Pennsylvania and New York departments of transportation. The system, invented by former PennDOT manager Bruce Hartman, is pre-fabricated lightweight plastic that replaces conventional concrete. Hartman has sold more than 650 units to municipalities, golf courses and state and national parks.

Also in business ...

Mellon Financial Corp. completed its previously disclosed acquisition of The Arden Group, an Atlanta investment firm that manages more than $750 million for high net worth individuals. Terms were not disclosed ... Moon-based ANH Refractories Co., which is operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, said it presented plans of reorganization for the North American Refractories Co. and Global Industrial Technologies Co. to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Pittsburgh. ANH's units include Harbison-Walker.