Albany labor dispute ruled a strike

ALBANY ‹ The Oregon Employment Department has ruled that Steelworkers at Allegheny Wah Chang are on strike and therefore are not eligible for unemployment insurance benefits.

Some 690 workers ‹ members of Steelworkers Local 6163 ‹ have argued since the labor dispute began Sept. 4 that they have been locked out of their jobs and are not on strike.

Their contract with Wah Chang, a specialty-metals manufacturer, expired Oct. 1, 2000, but work had continued under an interim agreement. Negotiations on a new pact started in August 2000 but stalled on the issue of medical insurance for retirees and pay and benefit equity with other Allegheny plants.

On Aug. 29, the union gave a 5-day notice of its intent to strike. It was the third such notice since the negotiations began that workers had threatened to walk out. The first two times the company responded with 24-hour notices of a plant shutdown. When those notices went out the union called off the strike. The third time, however, no shutdown notice was issued, so when workers showed up for the regular shift the morning of Sept. 4 they were told to go home because they were on strike.

Ken L. Betterton, an administrative law judge who heard the Steelworkers∞ appeals last December at the Salem Armory, ruled the labor dispute was a strike. øThe union never withdrew its notice of intent to strike prior to the strike commencing,Ó he said in his ruling.

Betterton said that even if it were a lockout, the workers would still be ineligible for jobless benefits under Oregon law, the Democrat Herald reported.
Local 6163 Vice President Linda Johnson said the union was appealing the decision.

In the meantime, a Wah Chang proposal faxed to the union two weeks ago wasn∞t even worth a response, said Johnson, adding that it was a worse offer than one presented to the union prior to Christmas through a federal mediator.

øWe had planned to be in mediation for three days, but after seven hours it was evident the company wasn∞t willing to bargain,Ó said Johnson of the pre-Christmas mediation.

Union President Wayne Boyd was in Minneapolis this week to discuss strategy with leaders of his international union.

øOur picket line is holding strong,Ó Johnson said. øBut any help we can get is certainly appreciated.Ó

A rally originally scheduled for Monday, Jan. 21, was called off, although Johnson said if people still want to come out and cheer us on they∞re more than welcome.

The company continues to operate with replacement workers.

© Oregon Labor Press Publishing Co. Inc.