Finally, progress.

Or, at least, Roy Hall, president of United Steelworkers Local 8-675, described a measure of forward movement Tuesday after nearly a year of sputtering contract negotiations between MeadWestvaco Corp. and the union at the company's Covington paper mill.

"It was a better round of negotiations, no doubt," said Hall, describing talks held during the week of Aug. 20.

During those meetings, negotiating teams for both sides agreed not to publicly reveal details under discussion. So, Hall said he couldn't disclose why he believes progress has occurred.

But those details have been shared, he said, with the USW's international office and with corporate officials at MeadWestvaco.

"We're just kind of in a holding pattern," waiting to see whether each side endorses what has been proposed, Hall said.

If they do, negotiating teams will then work to draft a new contract. And if that succeeds, union members will vote on whether to accept its terms, Hall said.

MeadWestvaco officials reached for comment offered none.

On Oct. 16, 2006, contract negotiations began. The union's previous, five-year contract expired in December. Union members have continued to work under the terms of the earlier contract.

During previous negotiations, sticking points have included health care coverage, pension contributions and a company proposal to diffuse boundaries among maintenance trades.

In Covington and Alleghany County, MeadWestvaco employs about 1,600 people. Local 8-675 has more than 960 members at the paper mill. MeadWestvaco is the area's largest employer and taxpayer.