WEST CHESTER, Ohio — AK Steel Corp. announced this morning that members of the United Auto Workers Local 3303 at the company's Butler Works have ratified a new two-and-a-half year contract covering roughly 1,200 production and maintenance workers.

Voting was Monday and Tuesday in Butler.

Details of the new contract, which ends April 1, 2019, were not released.

“We are pleased to have reached a labor agreement at Butler Works ahead of the expiration date,” stated Roger Newport, AK Steel chief executive officer, in a news release.

“This early resolution positions us well to meet the future needs of our customers as we continue to drive our sales of more value-added and innovative products.”

The previous contract was approved in 2012 and ends Oct. 1 this year.

Butler Works produces a range of flat-rolled steel products as well as a variety of stainless and carbon steels.