NEW INFO: Steelworkers Ratify Contract with AK Steel
Save Email Print
Bookmark and Share
Updated: 10:34 PM Jul 9, 2010
NEW INFO: Steelworkers Ratify Contract with AK Steel
United Steelworkers Local 1865 votes to ratify its contract with AK Steel.
Posted: 10:34 PM Jul 9, 2010
Reporter: Randy Yohe
Email Address: randy.yohe@wsaz.com
width:200 and height: 150 and picwidth: 200 and pciheight: 150
Font Size:

ASHLAND, Ky. (WSAZ) -- Union workers at AK Steel's Ashland Works voted to accept a new contract Friday by a vote of 511 to 53. The contract is a three-year extension to the current contract that was set to expire in September.

Local Steelworkers Union president Doug Campbell says major plant upgrades in the new contract keep the company and workers competitive and viable.

Individual highlights include a $1,500 lump sum bonus every year for the next three years, a $1 an hour wage increase and no health coverage changes for active or retired steelworkers.

Union leaders say the contract continues to insure a corporate manufacturing commitment to the Ashland Works, and the company agrees to invest more than $30 million in blast furnace and other upgrades.

The contract agreement is important to much of our region because the nearly 1,100 AK Steel Ashland Works employees hail from three states. So do the contracting companies who supply the plant.

The current contract expires September 1. Last year, the union stopped AK Steel from a plant idling and mass layoff.

This year, with more than 100 jobs added and a tentative agreement reached, things seem much more positive and optimistic.

One-by-one, the 733 unionized AK steelworkers went in to the union hall to vote. And most seemed to feel the same positive way about the new contract.

Local steelworker’s union president Doug Campbell says major plant upgrades in the new contract keep the company and workers competitive and viable.

Ashland Alliance President Jim Purgerson says his latest research shows that between steelworkers' salaries, plant contractor input and money spent locally, AK Steel's local economic impact runs around $200 million. Purgerson says when you hear the company is making major investments in the plant, that means they'll most likely be around for a while.

Union leaders say the contract continues to ensure a corporate manufacturing commitment to the Ashland Works, and the company agrees to invest more than $30 million in blast furnace and other upgrades.

So, does all that bode worker confidence in a good AK Steel future?

We'll wait and see," employee Dirk Bridges said. "You never know with our economy the way it is, all we can do is hope."

The tentative agreement also includes a company pension contribution increase and a top economic security package for junior service employees

In a current corporate world of no raises, reduced hours, short work weeks and furloughs, one steelworker said he seems to have it better than many of his working peers.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Ashlandsmyhome on Jul 16, 2010 at 02:50 PM

While I'm glad that these people get to keep their jobs, it angers me that all they (people with good pay and health benefits etc.)ever do is moan and complain about this or that being unfair or not enough. While others around them work for slave wages and no benefits and feel fortunate just to HAVE a job, ANY JOB! Several members of my own family are retired from or are currently employed at (AK/ARMCO), and for 40 years it has sickened me to hear them moan the blues over petty things that everyone else takes in stride in their (much) less lucrative jobs. I remember during layoffs and strikes having to work with unemployed steel workers who took (what they regarded as) "s**t jobs" to "get them by" until the storm had passed. While I was worried about paying the gas bill, they were complaining about the possibility of loosing their bass boat that cost more than my home. I know I'll catch flack over this(if WSAZ even posts it) but I just feel folks should be a little more appreciative.
Posted by: David on Jul 12, 2010 at 11:39 AM

Congratulations Union Members, wise decision. Whereas many around us are trying to take as much as they can, you wisely took what you had, was appreciative of that, and still have your jobs. Too bad Alcan can't say the same!
Posted by: stunned at Alcan on Jul 11, 2010 at 03:53 PM

So glad to see that the AK workers used their God given common sense when voting. . .
More Stories
$310,000,000
Go to our mobile site | Make this your homepage (IE)
Live Feed Now on the Always On Channel

Local Events

Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
WSAZ Digital Business Search
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com
Click here to send us your pictures and video pix@wsaz.com
WSAZ.com Most Popular / Most Comments
CNN.com News Headlines
WSAZ.com Sponsor Sections & Links
SOMC-Very good things are happening here SOMC
Very good things are happening here. Click here to learn more
Click here for closing and delays
Click here for school closings and delays
West Virginia Lottery nightly @ 6:59pm on WSAZ click here for numbers and drawings
Watch the Lottery Live Monday - Saturday @ 6:59pm on WSAZ NewsChannel 3. Need to check your numbers? Click here.
Ohio Lottery
Watch the Ohio Lottery Drawings weeknights @ 7:29pm and Cash Explosion Saturday @ 7:30pm on WSAZ NewsChannel 3.
WSAZ Children's Charitable Foundation
Click here to donate and help WSAZ help children at risk in our region. Thank you.
Making Moms LIfe Easier - with Diane Dimoff
Click here to see how our partners are making Moms and women's lives easier.
First Warning Hour-By-Hour Forecasts
+ Ashland, KY
+ Athens, OH
+ Beckley, WV
+ Charleston, WV
+ Clarksburg, WV
+ Clay, WV
+ Gallipolis, OH
+ Huntington, WV
+ Ironton, OH
+ Logan, WV
+ Morgantown, WV 		+ Paintsville, KY
+ Parkersburg, WV
+ Pikeville, KY
+ Pomeroy, OH
+ Portsmouth,OH
+ Ripley, WV
+ Spencer, WV
+ Sutton, WV
+ Wayne, WV
+ Wheeling, WV
+ Williamson, WV