Judge OKs $767K in bonuses, stipends for RG Steel over union objections

In the wake of nearly 5,000 layoffs -- 2,000 of which involved RG Steel workers at the now-defunct Sparrow Point steel mill -- a federal bankruptcy judge approved the company's $767,000 "retention" plan for its final 21 employees Tuesday, the Baltimore Sun reported.

The judge approved bonuses and stipends over the sharp objections of the United Steelworkers union, which represents the laid-off workers.