LABOR

Rubber-Steel Workers Merger Advances: The board of the United Rubber, Cork, Linoleum and Plastic Workers of America has approved a merger with the United Steelworkers of America, and the Steelworkers board will vote on the proposal Monday. The deal would then be submitted to a convention of the rubber workers union for approval, possibly this summer. Support from the steelworkers could help the rubber workers in a campaign to obtain a contract for thousands of workers at Bridgestone-Firestone Corp. striking in Indiana, Iowa and Oklahoma.