Sunday, December 31, 2006
Union leaders embrace AK Steel offer
Well, here's a surprise I wasn't expecting at 8PM on New Years Eve!
With the lockout at AK Steel's Middletown Works entering its 11th month, leaders of the union representing some 1,800 workers have done an about-face. They are now embracing contract terms that members overwhelmingly rejected in October.
The union has dropped its opposition to outsourcing work, the union president said, but wants assurances that the company won't use rigorous back-to-work physicals as a way to get rid of hundreds of longtime employees and strip them of pension and health care benefits.
I wouldn't call the lockout over quite yet, though. The company says the offer being accepted was withdrawn after being voted down by such a clear majority, and isn't on the table any more.
With the lockout at AK Steel's Middletown Works entering its 11th month, leaders of the union representing some 1,800 workers have done an about-face. They are now embracing contract terms that members overwhelmingly rejected in October.
The union has dropped its opposition to outsourcing work, the union president said, but wants assurances that the company won't use rigorous back-to-work physicals as a way to get rid of hundreds of longtime employees and strip them of pension and health care benefits.
I wouldn't call the lockout over quite yet, though. The company says the offer being accepted was withdrawn after being voted down by such a clear majority, and isn't on the table any more.
