AK Steel Employees Continue to Wait for Answers
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Posted: 4:11 PM Jul 31, 2009
AK Steel Employees Continue to Wait for Answers
Still no word on what will happen at Ashland's AK Steel plant, despite an arbitrator's ruling the plant could not close.
Reporter: Carrie Cline
Email Address: carrie.cline@wsaz.com
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ASHLAND, Ky. (WSAZ) -- With the clock ticking on a potential "hot idle" at the AK Steel Ashland Works facility, union leaders say they still have not received official word on plans from the company.

AK Steel announced several months ago plans to idle the plant sometime between July 28th and August 11th. However, an arbitrator ruled on July 15th in favor of keeping the facility active, citing a provision in the contract in which the Ashland plant had the first opportunity at production should there be a demand for its products.

A "hot idle" would keep the facility open but not actively staffed with employees.

Steelworkers Local 1865 President Doug Campbell told WSAZ.com that he met with local plant managers Friday to discuss the arbitration ruling, but plant officials said they still haven't received word from corporate on the possible plant idle. Campbell says a corporate vice-president was supposed to visit town this week, but that visit did not take place.

AK Steel put the Ashland plant on hot-idle last November and workers returned by mid-February. About 750 workers are involved in the plant's operations.

WSAZ.com has a call out to the corporate spokesman in Middletown, Ohio.

Latest Comments

Posted by: johnny b. on Aug 6, 2009 at 03:29 AM

I hate to see anyone lose a job, but the American manufacturing workers were pretty lazy. I've heard stories about guys showing up at work at Armco and Ashland Oil over the years, just to sleep for 8 hours. They said they were tired from working at their houses or farms. I mean they made pretty good money over those years, and as we all should know, "all good things come to an end". I believe that if people would have taken care of their infrastructure and not take the good life for granted, good things would have lasted longer.
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 3, 2009 at 09:57 AM

those employees will be took care of just like at christmas tey got discount and everthing what about the rest of us that was laidoff at that time 2 they are no better than us or i dont think so we also have families to but what do i know all of these wives getting on here and saying what im i going to do about my car payment and my nails and my hair well get out there and find a job and help paying for that stuff i dont know what this world is coming 2
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 2, 2009 at 01:04 PM

What does the company (AK) not under stand about binding arbitration?? It sounds like If AK sells a product and the ashland plant can make it, The ashland works stays open!! The end.
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