Union, AK talks 'a good session'
By Ed Richter
Staff Writer
Negotiators for AK Steel Corp. and the Armco Employees Independent Federation/International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 1943 met for a little more than two hours Friday in its latest bargaining session.
Friday’s bargaining session marked the 73rd time AK Steel and union representatives have met since Nov. 30 to reach an agreement on a new contract, said Alan McCoy, AK Steel’s vice president of government and public relations.
McCoy said the company and the union discussed a variety of issues. While McCoy declined to comment on the tenor of Friday’s session, he did say the company was still reviewing the counterproposal the union presented Thursday.
Jim Tyler, a Machinists spokesman, described Friday’s meeting as “a good session.”
“I still feel very positive about it,” he said.
Both Tyler and McCoy declined to comment on the specifics of negotiations, and both said the company and the union are planning to meet again next week.
About 2,700 members of the then-AEIF were locked out of AK Steel’s Middletown Works at midnight March 1. Since then, more than 500 union members have retired or sought other employment. The number of hourly workers stands at 2,134, AK Steel officials said Monday.
Since the lockout began, the Middletown Works has continued to operate with about 1,800 salaried and temporary replacement workers.
Friday also was the first of weekly information meetings for union members at the AEIF/IAM office at 1100 Crawford St.
More than 100 union members were in attendance Friday asking questions and expressing concerns, Tyler said.
Starting Aug. 25, Tyler said checks for $150 a week will be distributed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday for those who have filled out an application to determine eligibility.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2871 or erichter@coxohio.com.
