Order issued against strikers

A temporary restraining order was issued Wednesday against striking employees at Wise Alloys that prevents them from harassing workers as they come and go at the plant.

The injunction was issued by Colbert County Circuit Court Judge Hal Hughston Jr. It prevents striking employees from harassing or attempting to impede anyone from entering or leaving the company's facilities.

Most employees who went on strike Nov. 1 have returned to work pending ratification of new labor contracts. Members of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 320 returned to work at the reclamation facility on Ford Road. Members of the Steelworkers local, responsible for operating production jobs at the main plant on Second Street, and eight members of Carpenters Local 1209 have also agreed to return to work.

Maintenance and security employees who are members of North Alabama Building and Construction Trades Council and the International Association of Machinists and whose jobs are being outsourced, remained on strike Wednesday.

Company officials with Wise Alloys said after a tentative agreement between Wise management and the Steelworkers Local was reached Monday evening, the employees attempted to return to their jobs Tuesday morning. Wise officials said Steelworkers union employees were being intimidated at the employee entrance to the plant by employees who are still on strike.

Wise officials said several Steelworkers union employees, who were heading in to work at different shift times Tuesday, indicated they had been threatened with physical harm to them, their families and their property if they were to return to work.

Charles Lamon, assistant business manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 558, scoffed at the company's claims that union members are harassing and threatening people who were attempting to leave or enter Wise.

"We're a peaceful group," he said. "We don't want any trouble."

Wise officials reported that nearly all of the Steelworkers union employees who reported to work for the 8 a.m. shift Wednesday were able to cross the picket line.

Wise officials also reported, however, that a former employee, who was demonstrating in the picket line, dived onto the hood of a vehicle that was entering the plant.

Phil Tays, executive vice president and plant manager of Wise Alloys, questioned why the man was not arrested.

Lamon said union members who witnessed the incident reported the man jumped onto the hood of the car to avoid being run over.

"It was just an unfortunate incident," Lamon said. "The man wasn't hurt; the driver wasn't hurt; the car wasn't hurt."

Hughston's four-page restraining order against the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Lodge 75, the International Union of Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America Local 601 and the North Alabama Building and Trades Council, its member unions and their members was in response to a motion for a preliminary injunction request filed by Wise officials Wednesday morning.

The order restrains members of those unions from preventing or trying to prevent anyone from entering, leaving, or doing business with plant by using "intimidation, threats, force, coercion, obstruction or turning aside against one's will ..."

They are also prohibited from blocking or trying to block vehicles from entering or leaving the plant.

Hughston did not include in his order a request from Wise officials to limit the picket to no more than four people at any time within 300 feet of entry gates to Wise property.

Lamon said the union employees will comply with the restraining order.

Union leaders visited the picket line Wednesday night to ensure the protesters understood the restraining order's restrictions.

Keith Huntley, vice president of the North Alabama Building Trades Council, said the labor group continues to meet with Wise officials in hopes of working out an agreement that would end the strike.

Huntley said a meeting Wednesday with Wise Chairman and Chief Executive Officer David D'Addario and other Wise officials went well.

"We negotiated for about five hours today," Huntley said. "He is really excited about getting the picketers away from the plant, and we're just as excited about it. I felt like we made a lot of headway (Wednesday), but we're still not there."

Huntley said details have not been hammered out that have resulted in a cohesive contract yet, but he is hopeful it will happen soon.

"Today was the first time we sat down and everyone met without a bunch of hostility and anger," he said. "Right now, we're just trying to put together something to get us back in the door and get the strike out of the way. If we overcome these major hurdles, then we can address the details."

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

TimesDaily Staff Writer Dennis Sherer contributed to this report.