Nov. 14, 2006 — The United Steelworkers (USW) union has reached tentative agreement on a new four-year contract with AK Steel Corp. for hourly employees at the company’s Mansfield, Ohio, plant.

USW Local 169’s 294 members — primarily hourly production and maintenance employees — will review the proposed new contract over the next week, with a ratification vote scheduled for Nov. 20.

Although the USW will not disclose specific terms of the agreement to the public until it has had a chance to review the proposal with its members, the union said the agreement reflects significant improvements to wages, pensions and health insurance for active employees and retirees.

The union has scheduled an explanation meeting for its members to review the contract in detail on Nov. 20. If ratified, the proposed agreement would take effect Jan. 1, 2007 and expire on March 31, 2011. The existing agreement is scheduled to expire February 10, 2007.

The USW is the largest industrial union in North America with approximately 1.2 million active and retired members and represents approximately 974 hourly workers at AK Steel plants in Mansfield and Ashland, Ky.

Headquartered in Middletown, Ohio, AK Steel produces flat-rolled carbon, stainless and electrical steel products, as well as carbon and stainless tubular steel products, for automotive, appliance, construction and manufacturing markets.