Job Cuts Top Kaiser Talks

If Kaiser jobs are cut, who goes first?

That was one of the major issues at the meeting between Kaiser Aluminum and the Steelworkers Union in Denver Tuesday, according to the union.

The two sides have agreed to continue bargaining today to attempt to negotiate a return to work for nearly 3,000 Steelworkers who have been off the job since Sept. 30. That number includes 2,100 workers at the Mead and Trentwood plants in Spokane.

What started as a strike in September turned into a lockout in January when Kaiser rejected the union’s offer to return to work under its expired labor contract.

Both union members and the company said the continued talks offer hope.

“They’re still talking, and they’ve agreed to at least another day,” said Larry Strom, spokesman for the union local at Mead.

“The company and union have exchanged views concerning their opinions on their respective proposals,” said company spokeswoman Susan Ashe. “Any time the two sides are at the negotiating table, we think that’s a good sign.”

They will possibly talk about plant-specific issues today, officials say.

The talks began Monday, and it was expected the sides would bargain throughout the week.

Kaiser’s full negotiating team, including president Ray Milchovich and chief negotiator Jeremy Sherman, are meeting with the union.

The union is represented by chief negotiator David Foster and the local presidents from each of the five plants affected by the lockout.

A federal mediator is also present.