Cheers to United Steelworkers of America Local 6346-25 and Indspec. The Petrolia chemical plant and its union employees this past week ended a nearly five-month long lockout and ratified a new three-year contract.

Local President Ron Bowser said it was the fourth vote taken in contract negotiations. The union represents 175 full-time workers. Details were not released, but Bowser called it “a concessionary contract.”

It was a concessionary contract from the beginning. Indspec, a subsidiary of the Los Angeles-based Occidental Petroleum Corp., locked out workers April 5 after they turned down changes the company sought, including pay cuts for 30 lower-grade jobs, a reduction of employee personal days from five to one, holiday scheduling, overtime assignments, job shift scheduling and health insurance, according to earlier reports.

Arguments could be made both for and against concessions. Occidental Petroleum is riding the current domestic oil and natural gas boom, reporting a second-quarter profit of $1.4 billion; at the same time, its chemical holdings have seen a decrease in earnings — $133 million core earnings in second-quarter 2014 compared with $144 million in second-quarter 2013 — an $11 million decrease that justifies a cost-cutting strategy.

Concessionary contracts aren't popular. Sometimes they're necessary in a highly competitive market. But it's more palatable than the alternative, continuation of the lockout.

Let's hope the return to work is a smooth transition, that the concessions agreed to have their desired effect, and that Indspec's productivity will prosper Occidental's chemical division — and the USWA local employees and their families — for the duration of the new contract.

Perhaps you missed the verbal bomb dropped the other day by Michelle Obama.Co-hosting a women's empowerment event at the White House with former first lady Laura Bush, Mrs. Obama got on the topic of social media.“I tease my kids,” she said. “I tell them I want them to use Instagram to take a picture of something really important rather than their food ... I mean, no one really cares what you had for lunch.”Oh, really?That's the height of irony from the nation's most iconic advocate for healthy meals. It's particularly telling that some news reports of the first lady's comment were accompanied by images tweeted by school children, protesting what they insinuated were the results of Obama's influence over what their school cafeterias were serving. Some of the images showed meals that look skimpy; others looked downright nasty.An example: @bradyjustice2 tweeted a photo of a chicken patty on a bun with a half-pint of 1 percent milk and the comment: “All we get for lunch today. Thank you Michelle Obama.”Another: @tylerclements6, commenting on his mashed potato topped with watery ground beef and corn: “So this is the 'healthy school lunch ...'.”These kids wish Mrs. O really didn't care so much what was on their cafeteria tray.

Black and gold cheers to Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown, who may be a victim of his own generosity — and he’s not complaining about it.The post office at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, where the Steelers hold training camp, has been swamped with mail since Brown made a vow on Facebook to autograph anything fans send him.Brown’s Facebook page includes dozens of photos of him interacting with fans and obviously having a good time doing it.One of the fans, Evan White of Cincinnati commented: “Out of all the players Antonio Brown was one of the most fan friendly. ... Antonio tried to get to everyone (for autographs) but the coaches were telling them to hurry up. He did say he’d sign more stuff once practice was over.”Brown posted a message on July 28 saying, “If I don’t get a chance to sign something for you at camp just send info to me.” He listed his dormitory room at the private Catholic school where the Steelers have held training camp for more than 40 years.Three days later, Brown posted a photo of his stacks of mail, along with the comment: “Signing and returning. Thank you everyone who keeping me busy, motivated ‘n’ inspired! Reading and signing throughout down time,” along with his signature “CUEUPU (chest up, eyes up, prayed up).”Maria Schifano, assistant manager of the post office, says the mail is still pouring in. She says Brown received more than 100 packages on one day alone and says, “He’s going to be busy.”