Kaiser Stalemate Enters Sixth Week

As the sixth week of the steelworkers strike at Kaiser Aluminum begins today, the two sides still have not agreed to resume negotiations.

More than 3,000 workers at five U.S. plants have been on strike since their contract expired Sept. 30.

“We are certainly willing and prepared to resume bargaining,” said John Duray, spokesman for the United Steelworkers.

He also said the company hasn’t been talking with the union about how it would implement a cut of 600 to 900 jobs that Kaiser Chairman George Haymaker mentioned last week in a talk with analysts.

“The numbers mentioned by Mr. Haymaker are potential (totals),” said Susan Ashe, Kaiser spokeswoman. “They’re certainly subject to discussion with the steelworkers.”

Meanwhile, the striking workers, including 2,100 from the Mead and Trentwood plants, now have access to the union’s strike fund. Each union local now gets $100 per week for each striking employee. That would gradually increase to $150 a week by the 15th week if the strike continues.

Meanwhile, Kaiser plants continue production with salaried employees, retirees and temporary replacement workers. As of Nov. 1, the replacements became Kaiser employees instead of employees of IMAC, the Cleveland-based company that hired them.

Kaiser declined to say how many temporary workers the company now employs.