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Updated: 10:20 PM Jan 10, 2009
Trying To Keep Century Aluminum Open
State and federal officials and top executives from Century Aluminum met in private Saturday to try to figure out a way to keep the company's Ravenswood plant open and spare nearly 700 jobs.
Posted: 7:37 PM Jan 10, 2009Reporter: The Associated Press & WSAZ News Staff Email Address: news@wsaz.com |
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RAVENSWOOD, W.Va. (AP) - State and federal officials and top executives from Century Aluminum met in private Saturday to try to figure out a way to keep the company's Ravenswood plant open and spare nearly 700 jobs.
Governor Joe Manchin, Senator Jay Rockefeller, U.S. Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito and other leaders joined Century Aluminum chief executive officer Logan Kruger and union officials in a three-hour-long private meeting at the plant.
Participants would not reveal what was discussed, but said many areas were covered.
Congresswoman Capito told reporters, "The bottom line is it's a lot of people's lives and communities and it's important to all of us to pull as hard as we we can together to keep those human faces, those families at a point where they can live and prosper in West Virginia."
The Monterey, California-based company shut down one production line at the plant in December. It warned that the entire facility may close February 15th if the slumping price of aluminum didn't stabilize.
Manchin has said tax breaks or other aid may be needed to keep the plant's doors open.
Latest Comments
Posted by: Eli
on Jan 19, 2009 at 03:08 PM
I care about the jobs at Century, but I don't know how people can say "its fine with me if they raise everyones electric bill". We have a lot of people on fixed incomes, a lot of people on minimum wage and an increase in their power bill whether it be $5 or $25 could be devastating. If their electricity is shut off because they can't pay their bill, will Century or one of its employees pay the bill? Those who say I'll take a pay cut to have a job, do they work here, I don't recall seeing a name? If they do work here, and give up a 12.41% cut in pay today to keep their job, what are they going to be willing to give up on May 31 when the contract expires? To answer any questions, I have been laid off, once for 16 months, once for 18 months, locked out for 20 months. Yes I'm one of those old men and I thank God for the old men before me who fought to get our wages and benefits where they are today. Some of you probably think the company gave you these things because they are nice guys.
Posted by: to from complainers
on Jan 17, 2009 at 11:01 AM
I do not know what AEP rep you talked to but they are very much mistaken and have given you some faulty information.We use coal to produce electricity the more demand the more coal it takes to meet that demand,if the demand falls then it takes less coal and since it is winter we operate at near capacity most of the time and many times less demand is a welcome sight for it make the wear and tear or the grid less damaging.If century were to close it would not raise the consumers bill it will just lower the demand and we will burn less coal which cuts our cost to produce power which in turn does cut our profit but no way does it put us into a situation of having to raise customers bills to cover the cost of the negative profit.We really wish it worked that way but it doesn't.If it did you would have a set price every month if you used it or not and every time someones electric was shut off your price would go up to cover their bill.I hope you can see where this would lead
Posted by: Shut it down
on Jan 16, 2009 at 07:34 PM
Well looks like there may be desention in the ranks as I figured there was.You will find the ones that have worked there for a # of years and been thru the strikes and closings and the sacb replacements will not want to take a cut.With all the news coming about layoffs every where over 70000 nation wide today alone it makes 700 a pretty insignificant # so do the area a favor and close the place if the sister compamies wont help then why should the residents of Wva really care about Century they showed a profit of something like 123 million for the 3rd qtr of 08 and are in the process of reworking 1 of the potlines so stop the work and operate at a reduced production level until the market picks up.When you dont have anything coming in you cut the outlays to survive not thereaten your workers with a shut down to get concessions and this is why the older workers will not take a cut they know the score
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