Jul 26 2010
Alcan Global Aerospace Transportation and Industry (Alcan Global ATI), part of Alcan Engineered Products - a business unit of Rio Tinto - announced today that employees represented by United Steelworkers (USW) Local 5668 at its aluminum rolling mill in Ravenswood, West Virginia, have ratified a new two-year agreement.
The Company continued to operate throughout the negotiations and contract extensions, and looks forward to implementing the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
"I am very pleased with the outcome of the ratification vote. It is a clear demonstration that all parties are determined to work together in a constructive way to shape the future of the Ravenswood plant. This new agreement balances the interest of the employees and the necessary competitive improvements in a challenging economic environment" said Christophe Villemin, Alcan Global ATI President.
Despite the plant's difficult financial situation for the last few years, the new agreement preserves employees' health care coverage, and provides for a higher contribution to the employees' pension plan over the new agreement's period.
Key contract changes will make the plant more efficient through work reorganization with an even greater emphasis on safety, reliability and quality.
"It's now time for Ravenswood to re-focus on business and operational excellence, thus securing the plant's position in the marketplace as a preferred supplier of aluminum products for Aerospace and Defense as well as other important markets", concluded Christophe Villemin.
The new two-year contract covers 700 unionized hourly employees at the Ravenswood facility.
Source: http://www.alcanaerospace.com/