Employees represented by United Steelworkers (USW) Local 5668 at Alcan Inc.’s Ravenswood, W.Va., aluminum rolling mill, have ratified a new five-year agreement.

Signed with Pechiney Rolled Products, LLC., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alcan, the terms of the contract were presented for a ratification vote to USW Local 5668 members on September 2, 2005.

"I am very pleased with the outcome of the ratification vote. It is a clear demonstration that all parties concerned are determined to work together to build a bright future for Ravenswood," Michel Jacques, President and CEO of Alcan Engineered Products. "Building on the progress achieved in the last two years, we are now in a position to undertake new initiatives to improve the long-term viability of the plant. Soon to be renamed Alcan Rolled Products-Ravenswood, the facility is a key asset of the Engineered Products Business Group, helping to serve better a wide range of customers especially in aerospace," he added.

The new five-year contract is effective as of June 1, 2005 and will expire on May 31, 2010. It covers about 850 unionized employees at the Ravenswood facility.

Alcan is a multinational, market-driven company and a global leader in aluminum and packaging. With world-class operations in primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum as well as flexible and specialty packaging, aerospace applications, bauxite mining and alumina processing, today's Alcan is well positioned to meet and exceed its customers' needs for innovative solutions and service. Alcan employs almost 70,000 people and has operating facilities in 55 countries and regions.

Alcan’s Ravenswood Plant is one of the largest aluminum rolling mills in the world and produces high quality aluminum plate, coil and sheet products for the aerospace, aeronautical and transportation industries.