Lockout looms as Century Aluminum makes offer

OREANDA-NEWS. Century Aluminum has delayed for 24 hours a lockout of United Steelworkers union members at its Hawesville, Kentucky, smelter and given the union a fourth contract proposal for its approval by the end of today.

Members of USW Local 9423 have until 11:59pm CT today to accept Century Aluminum's latest "last, best and final" offer. If the union does not accept the offer by then, Century's Kentucky subsidiary will implement a lockout at the 244,000t/yr Hawesville smelter at 8am CT tomorrow.

Local 9423 will stop collecting votes on the offer by 8:30pm CT.

Last week, the union rejected Century's third proposed labour contract for workers at the Hawesville smelter, after the prior contract expired on 8 April. Century on 1 May issued a lockout notice effective 11 May. The lockout is intended to keep the smelter operating with non-union workers.

The latest modified offer provides for standard hourly base wages to increase by 2.5pc this year and 2.75pc each year through 2019. It also outlines changes to overtime pay and allows for former employees who have retired in good standing to revoke their retirement and have their seniority reinstated.

The union represents about 54pc of Century's US-based workforce. The union represents Hawesville employees under a collective bargaining agreement.

Century has said it is prepared to operate the smelter safely and at full production if it implements the lockout.