ATI Looks for Post-Lockout Production to Normalize in April
03/07/2016 - With a six-month lockout at an end, unionized employees at Allegheny Technologies Inc. (ATI) are to begin returning to work 13 March, the company has announced.
“We welcome the return of our employees,” said Bob Wetherbee, executive vice president of ATI’s flat rolled division, in a statement.
“After safety training and job-specific refresher training, we expect operations to resume promptly and reach target production levels during the first few weeks of the second quarter.”
The lockout was brought to an end last week when members of the United Steelworkers union ratified a new four-year labor agreement and agreed to withdraw labor practice charges against the company.
The previous deal expired 30 June 2015. A month-and-a-half later, ATI locked out approximately 2,200 Steelworkers at 12 facilities. The National Labor Relations Board later said the lockout was improper.
Separately, the Steelworkers are continuing to seek new deals with ArcelorMittal and iron ore miner Cliffs Natural Resources.
In separate bargaining updates (they are located here and here), the union said health insurance benefits are a sticking point in both negotiations. It also said that Cliffs Natural Resources has made proposals that would weaken the pension plan and eliminate safety incentives.
“After safety training and job-specific refresher training, we expect operations to resume promptly and reach target production levels during the first few weeks of the second quarter.”
The lockout was brought to an end last week when members of the United Steelworkers union ratified a new four-year labor agreement and agreed to withdraw labor practice charges against the company.
The previous deal expired 30 June 2015. A month-and-a-half later, ATI locked out approximately 2,200 Steelworkers at 12 facilities. The National Labor Relations Board later said the lockout was improper.
Separately, the Steelworkers are continuing to seek new deals with ArcelorMittal and iron ore miner Cliffs Natural Resources.
In separate bargaining updates (they are located here and here), the union said health insurance benefits are a sticking point in both negotiations. It also said that Cliffs Natural Resources has made proposals that would weaken the pension plan and eliminate safety incentives.
