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Gerdau Ameristeel Workers Will Be Locked Out Until Further
Notice Reported
by Camille Eaton <mailto:camille@kfdm.com> May 26, 2005 - 6:07PM KFDM picture of Gerdau Ameristeel union members
waiting outside plant following lockout. Picture taken during KFDM News live report at 6 from Rose City.)
More than 400 employees are now out of work after Gerdau Ameristeel
decided to cease operations.
The company hopes this action will force the United Steelworkers of America to accept their
final offer.
In a live report from the plant in Rose City on KFDM News at 6, Camille Eaton spoke with Union V.P. Roy Williford
who said employees have been locked out of the building until further notice. We saw a number of workers waiting on the road
outside the gates after learning of the lockout.
Union workers have been operating without a contract since March when
negotiations reached a standstill.
The company hopes this action will encourage the union to vote for their proposal.
Union members say their proposal is unacceptable.
The two sides will meet again at the bargaining table on June 2nd
and June 3rd.
Union members say they will not vote until they get a proposal worth voting on.
Gerdau Ameristeel Representatives
tell KFDM News they remain optimistic that employees will be back at work soon.
Gerdau Ceasing Operations Pending
Outcome of Contract Talks; Watch for Camille Eaton's Live Report at 6 Reported by Scott Lawrence <mailto:scottl@kfdm.com>
May 26, 2005 - 4:05PM
Gerdau Ameristeel
Corp. has ceased operations at its Beaumont mill in an effort to "encourage" the United Steelworkers of America labor union
to act on the company's "last, best and final" agreement offer presented to the union committee on May 9.
Thursday,
workers told KFDM reporter Camille Eaton morale is low. A company spokesman told her they believe the offer is fair and workers
should vote in favor of the contract. Camille
will have a live report from the plant in Rose City tonight at 6.
In
a news release, the company said it and its workforce have been working without a labor agreement since March 31 and have
been negotiating since Jan. 18.
The number of workers at the mill wasn't disclosed.
The company said the final
contract options proposed by Gerdau Ameristeel are very similar to the contract previously in place at the Beaumont mill.
Its proposals include the opportunity for a long-term agreement and competitive benefits and pay, it said.
It said
its goal is to achieve an agreement that allows the mill to compete against imported steel and offer good wages and benefits.
Gerdau Ameristeel is a minimill steel producer.
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