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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 18, 2015)
PAGE 18 | December 18, 2015 | NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS ...ATI steelworker lockout expected to continue over the holidays From Page 1 the picketers cross the road to dry off in front of a propane heater under a canvas canopy on a strip of private land. There are coffee urns and camp chairs, and bark dust to stop the mud. Hand- painted signs give passersby a summary of what’s going on: “Locked out. Not walked out.” Close to 2,200 workers at 12 Allegheny Technologies Incor- porated (ATI) facilities in six states have been locked out since Aug. 15 — including 180 at the Albany plant. In contract bargaining that began in May, ATI gave the union a sweeping list of demands, including an end to the pension and retiree health insurance for new hires, and a significant increase in what workers would pay out-of- pocket for family health cover- age: Premiums would go from zero currently to $215 a month by the end of the contract, and annual deductibles would rise by up to $400 a year. “It was all, ‘this is what we want, and you’ll take it,’” said Local 7150 president Josh Hall, who served on the union bar- gaining team. “There was no bargaining in good faith.” When the union didn’t jump to take that offer to a vote, ATI locked out all 2,200 union work- ers in the multi-facility bargain- ing unit. SMILE: YOU ARE ABOUT TO BE SHOT — This sign greets picketers at the entrance to ATI Albany. I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS The Steelworkers maintain their picket line, in four-hour shifts, from 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., five days a week, and welcome visits from sup- porters. But they’ll take a break Dec. 18 to Jan. 4. On Dec. 19, the union is sponsoring a family Christ- mas party at Pix Theater in Albany, followed by bowling at Highland Bowl in Corvallis. Picketers say they think a strike or lockout was ATI’s plan all along. In the weeks leading up to the June 30 expiration of the union contract, the company EARLY MORNING ON THE ATI PICKETLINE: From left to right: John Goosen, Joe Barton, Shane Jones, Steve Bum- gardner, Karl Krupicka, Jeff Thomas, Josh Hall, and Jim Wright. prepared for picketing by in- stalling fences and cameras and painting a white stripe showing the property line at the Albany mill. Managers even took re- “They already had a game plan and they were going to cut our throats regardless. There’s no respect at all for the people who work here. They’re heartless sons of bitches.” placement workers through the plant to look around. “They already had a game plan and they were going to cut our throats regardless,” said picketer Greg Shaffer, 57, who’s worked 20 years at the plant. “There’s no respect at all for the people who work here. They’re heartless sons of bitches.” The National Labor Relations Board is investigating the union’s charges that ATI was never serious about negotiating an agreement. USW international Vice Pres- Turn to Page 22 — Greg Shaffer, 20-year employee at the Albany titanium plant Happy Greetings Labor Day! Holiday Honoring the Working Men and to Organized Labor Women of Oregon and Washington With every good wish for the New Year Wishing you joy and prosperity We take pride in being a trusted custodian to help our labor management clients grow. From protecting the interests and assets of their members and beneficiaries to long-term investment needs, U.S. Bank helps unions enhance returns, P.O. Box 4148 Portland, Oregon 97208 503-282-5581 www.wcearhart.com Main office: 3140 NE Broadway, Portland control expenses, and manage information reporting. Contact us to learn more about custom solutions for pension, health and welfare, and other benefit arrangements. Jason Kaufman | 503.464.4472 | jason.kaufman@usbank.com Chris Underwood | 206.587.5285 | christina.underwood@usbank.com Vicki Coleman | 503.464.4473 | Vicki.Coleman@usbank.com Institutional Trust and Custody
