Alcoa union votes to authorize strike

Members of United Steelworkers Local 105 voted overwhelmingly in favor Wednesday of authorizing a strike at the Alcoa Davenport Works plant.

The exact vote totals were not available late Wednesday, but union president Skip McGill confirmed the strike authorization passed.

One of the primary grievances is the increasing reliance on contractors.

Maintenance and production jobs like milling, sawing and inspection have been contracted out to other local companies or companies across the country, he said. The contractors set up trailers inside the plant or on the grounds outside.

"It looks like contractor village," Mr. McGill said of the trailers. "They are setting up shop inside the plant."

Mr. McGill said the company has said it doesn't want to continually hire and fire workers for short-term jobs, but Mr. McGill said that wouldn't happen. He believes the company doesn't want to hire more union workers

"It's about weakening (the union) and less bargaining power," he said.
The union will ask for pay for the union members who could have done the work that was contracted out, and for the company to hire more people so work won't be contracted out in the future.

Mr. Riches said the company has not laid off any workers since 2002, and has hired about 400 people in the last 18 months.

Final negotiations are expected to end in January and if agreement is not reached by then, a strike would result. A strike would no doubt be very tough on union families. Hope it's resolved in short order.