Operating engineers return to work at Wise Alloys

LISTERHILL - Numerous Wise Alloys workers who have been on strike began returning to work Tuesday with new contracts agreed on, at least tentatively.

All 105 members of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 320 returned to work at the company's Alabama Reclamation facility on Ford Road. The union had joined the strike at 11 a.m. Monday but negotiations quickly led to a new five-year contract.

The Steelworkers local, which provides 330 production jobs at the main plant on Second Street, also have a tentative five-year deal in place that was supposed to have the workers back on the job Tuesday. Although some of the Steelworkers reported to work, most did not.

Ernie Kilpatrick, business agent for the Steelworkers local, said some of his members stated that they did not feel safe returning to work while other unions remained on strike.

"Most (union members) respect the picket line," Kilpatrick said.

He said he expects more workers to report to work today and hopes all return before the Steelworkers membership vote Thursday to ratify or reject the tentative agreement.

"It's the best agreement we could come up with at this time," Kilpatrick said.

Gary Dalrymple, business manager for the operating engineers local, said the group's contract is still tentative because some language must be clarified.

He said, however, that the union did ratify a full agreement Tuesday morning on an economic package that included details on health benefits.

"I would have liked to have done better, but it's a reasonably good package," Dalrymple said. "We've had a much better contract on our health insurance in the past, but we had to take some concessions.

"Everything turned out pretty good. We want to work and make Wise a very profitable company."

Wayne Travers, a spokesman for Wise Alloys, said the Carpenter's Local 1209 also have an agreement in place. The union provides eight jobs at the company's Sheffield facility.

Meanwhile, members of the building and trades union continued to man picket lines Tuesday, hoping to get back to the negotiating table. Wise officials have said the 200 jobs represented by the building and trades groups are being outsourced.

Travers said the company is not in negotiations with the building and trades but they were given the opportunity to apply for positions through ABB, which has been hired to provide maintenance jobs for the plant.

"All of the Wise Alloys workers that were in the maintenance function were given preferential hiring by ABB, and we're very disappointed that very few of them applied for the jobs," Travers said.

David F. D'Addario, the company's owner and chairman/chief executive officer, met with the building and trades local representatives Tuesday afternoon to discuss several issues, including employment with ABB in order to return to the plant.

Building and trades representatives, however, say they don't expect their members to apply for jobs with ABB.

Keith Carruth, steward for the International Association of Machinists Local 1189, said his fellow building and trades members want to be brought back into the company as a unified group.

"Even though we're 11 different unions, we're one union," he said.

Kenda Williams can be reached at 740-5720 or kenda.williams@timesdaily.com.

Managing Editor Mike Goens contributed to this report.