Kaiser Prepares For Strike Contract Expires Sept. 30

The clock keeps ticking.

With a contract deadline looming, Kaiser Aluminum’s lawyers and company leaders and the United Steelworkers chief negotiators will continue their meetings in Minneapolis this week. But, the labor contract is set to expire Sept. 30, and so far there’s little to report on the negotiations that started Sept. 1.

On Monday, Kaiser moved about 30 housing trailers and a number of portable toilets into the Trentwood plant. The company already has set up housing for temporary workers at its Mead refinery, said employees.

On the other side, the Steelworkers have made up picket signs that read: “We Support Kaiser Steelworkers.”

Both sides are preparing for the worst: a strike. Such a work stoppage could temporarily end the income and benefits for about 2,100 Spokane workers. And it could seriously cripple production at Spokane’s two Kaiser Aluminum plants.

Even so, while things are happening in Spokane, all eyes are on Minneapolis.

Both Spokane-based and national Steelworker negotiators waited out this weekend in the Twin Cities while Kaiser officials took several days off. The union was disappointed to see Kaiser leave the sessions.

“We were prepared to go through until the 30th to try to reach an agreement,” said John Duray, spokesman for the union. “It would have been good if the company stayed through, too.”

But this week the company is back at the table, said Susan Ashe, spokesperson for Kaiser.

“The negotiations will continue in Minneapolis,” Ashe said. “The company’s negotiating with the intent of reaching an agreement by Sept. 30.”

The current contract covers about 3,000 workers at five Kaiser plants in the United States, including one in Tacoma and Spokane’s Mead and Trentwood.

According to the union, its goals in negotiating this package include a return to an industry standard compensation package, improved safety and working conditions and guarantee of a secure retirement.

The company has told the workers it wants to change the contract to eliminate restrictive work practices and consolidate job classifications to increase productivity.