Union to take 'strike vote' on latest Alcan offer

Union workers at the Alcan Rolled Products plant in Ravenswood are prepared to strike later this month if they reject the company's latest "final" contract offer, a United Steelworkers official said Thursday.

"This will be a strike vote," said Nathan Nelson, vice president of the USW's Local 5668 in Ravenswood. "If it votes down, we'll be on strike."

Union employees plan to vote on the proposed contract July 8-9 at the aluminum plant's main gate. Union leaders and Alcan executives met Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss the company's latest offer.

Nelson said there were "little or no changes" from Alcan's contract offer on June 3 -- a proposal that union workers rejected by a 5-1 vote.

"We're basically looking at the same contract offer," Nelson said Thursday.

The current collective bargaining agreement between the union and Alcan has been extended through 11:59 p.m. July 10.

The United Steelworkers will hold several informational meetings about the contract offer July 7 at the Local 5668 union hall in Ravenswood.

Nelson said Alcan's latest contract offer includes a much-criticized provision that would establish a committee responsible for "work reorganization" at the plant. The union fears the proposal might lead to additional layoffs.

Last year, Alcan laid off 168 workers in Ravenswood. The company said no layoffs are planned under the new contract.

"The clarified final offer includes complete layoff protection with regards to the new work reorganization initiative, which identifies and recommends important operational improvements," said Morrie Newell, an Alcan spokesman.

Nelson said Alcan also refused to add changes to the contract that would help defray health insurance premiums for retired plant retirees. The new contract would require retirees to pay the premiums.

Union workers at the Alcan Rolled Products plant in Ravenswood are prepared to strike later this month if they reject the company's latest "final" contract offer, a United Steelworkers official said Thursday.

"This will be a strike vote," said Nathan Nelson, vice president of the USW's Local 5668 in Ravenswood. "If it votes down, we'll be on strike."

Union employees plan to vote on the proposed contract July 8-9 at the aluminum plant's main gate. Union leaders and Alcan executives met Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss the company's latest offer.

Nelson said there were "little or no changes" from Alcan's contract offer on June 3 -- a proposal that union workers rejected by a 5-1 vote.

"We're basically looking at the same contract offer," Nelson said Thursday.

The current collective bargaining agreement between the union and Alcan has been extended through 11:59 p.m. July 10.

The United Steelworkers will hold several informational meetings about the contract offer July 7 at the Local 5668 union hall in Ravenswood.

Nelson said Alcan's latest contract offer includes a much-criticized provision that would establish a committee responsible for "work reorganization" at the plant. The union fears the proposal might lead to additional layoffs.

Last year, Alcan laid off 168 workers in Ravenswood. The company said no layoffs are planned under the new contract.

"The clarified final offer includes complete layoff protection with regards to the new work reorganization initiative, which identifies and recommends important operational improvements," said Morrie Newell, an Alcan spokesman.

Nelson said Alcan also refused to add changes to the contract that would help defray health insurance premiums for retired plant retirees. The new contract would require retirees to pay the premiums.

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