Washington (Platts)--29Nov2012/511 pm EST/2211 GMT
The ABI aluminum union in Quebec, Canada, which has been embroiled in tense labor contract talks with majority owner Alcoa, has requested a meeting with senior Alcoa management in Pittsburgh, the USW Local 9700 said Thursday. USW Local 9700 President Clement Masse said in a statement the request comes after "an intense blitz of negotiations." "This application comes in a last-ditch effort to avoid a conflict in the smelter, which employs more than 900 workers," he said. "We have come a long way, and we feel we went as far as we can with the local management of our plant," Masse added. "In a last-ditch effort to avoid a conflict, we now ask the opportunity to deliver our message and demand to the senior management of Alcoa. Our objective remains to reach a negotiated settlement." Article continues below...Request a free trial of Metals DailyPlatts Metals Daily offers prices, news and analysis for the aluminum, copper and molybdenum value chains. It contains hundreds of metals prices across base, minor, light and precious metals assessed by editors globally. This detailed report will help you monitor global events and quickly spot opportunities or potential pitfalls as well as bring you aluminum and copper price and news coverage. Daily prices and news for molybdenum are also covered to deliver critical insights.
The ABI aluminum union in Quebec, Canada, which has been embroiled in tense labor contract talks with majority owner Alcoa, has requested a meeting with senior Alcoa management in Pittsburgh, the USW Local 9700 said Thursday. USW Local 9700 President Clement Masse said in a statement the request comes after "an intense blitz of negotiations." "This application comes in a last-ditch effort to avoid a conflict in the smelter, which employs more than 900 workers," he said. "We have come a long way, and we feel we went as far as we can with the local management of our plant," Masse added. "In a last-ditch effort to avoid a conflict, we now ask the opportunity to deliver our message and demand to the senior management of Alcoa. Our objective remains to reach a negotiated settlement."
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Platts Metals Daily offers prices, news and analysis for the aluminum, copper and molybdenum value chains. It contains hundreds of metals prices across base, minor, light and precious metals assessed by editors globally. This detailed report will help you monitor global events and quickly spot opportunities or potential pitfalls as well as bring you aluminum and copper price and news coverage. Daily prices and news for molybdenum are also covered to deliver critical insights.
The ABI union and Alcoa on Wednesday ended their five-day "truce," clearing the way for the union to declare a strike and for the company to lock out workers. Still, the two sides are continuing to talk in hopes of reaching a new contract for workers at the 420,000 mt/year Aluminerie de Becancour smelter. The previous contract expired at midnight November 22, at which time the five-day truce was signed. The union workers last week rejected the final labor contract offered by Alcoa, and a source with the United Steelworkers Local 9700 said a strike was likely. Alcoa spokeswoman Libby Archell said on Wednesday she could confirm that talks are continuing, but had "nothing further to share at this juncture." Alcoa owns 75% of ABI and Rio Tinto Alcan owns 25%.--Tina Allagh, tina_allagh@platts.com--Edited by Kevin Saville, kevin_saville@platts.com
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