USW Members Ratify New Labor Agreement at AK Tube
01/13/2009 - Members of United Steelworkers of America Local 1915 ratify a new labor agreement with AK Tube LLC covering hourly production and maintenance workers at the company’s Walbridge, Ohio, facility.
Members of United Steelworkers of America (USW) Local 1915 have ratified a new labor agreement with AK Tube LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of AK Steel.
The new agreement, which covers about 100 hourly production and maintenance employees at AK Tube’s Walbridge, Ohio, facility, includes no wage increases during the first year of the new contract, but adds them back in for the contract’s second and third years. It also includes significant workforce flexibility and healthcare cost-sharing provisions, along with continuation of a gain-sharing plan and a ratification bonus.
"We are pleased that members of Local 1915 have ratified a new, cost competitive labor agreement at our Walbridge tube plant," said James L. Wainscott, Chairman, President and CEO of AK Steel. "This agreement addresses costs and other concerns that our company faces in today's challenging market conditions."
The new agreement replaces a contract scheduled to expire on January 25, 2009.
AK Tube LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of AK Steel, employs about 300 men and women in plants in Walbridge, Ohio, and Columbus, Ind. AK Tube produces carbon and stainless electric resistance welded (ERW) tubular steel products for truck, automotive and other markets.
AK Steel produces flat-rolled carbon, stainless and electrical steels, primarily for automotive, appliance, construction and electrical power generation and distribution markets. The company employs about 6500 men and women in Middletown, Mansfield, Coshocton and Zanesville, Ohio; Butler, Pa.; Ashland, Ky.; Rockport, Ind.; and its corporate headquarters in West Chester, Ohio.
