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SCOTTSBORO, Alabama– Scottsboro Aluminum LLC locked out 420 members of United Steelworkers of America (USWA) Local 7468 several hours before their contract expired October 10. Workers on the afternoon shift were sent home at about 5:00 p.m., with the company claiming there was no more work.

As they drove out the gate, the Steelworkers passed two busloads of replacement workers coming in. The night and morning shifts were turned away when they reported for work. The contract expired at 12:01 a.m. October 11. The company broke off negotiations.

Scottsboro Aluminum is one of the largest employers in this small, northeast Alabama town.

More than 40 workers were gathered outside the plant gate October 22. They said the "lockout line" is kept similarly staffed around the clock. Workers declined to call it a picket line, since they are not on strike.

The mood of the workers is relaxed and confident. They have taken over a grassy area between Goosepond Credit Union and the company's property line with picnic tables, barbecue grills, and plenty of coolers.

A Roadway truck driver got out of his truck in front of the credit union, refusing to cross the line. A salaried employee came out to bring the truck through the gate. The aluminum workers warmly welcomed the truck driver.

"They're trying to chop our seniority and do away with bidding rights for two years — they hollered 'stability,' " said Allen Bellomy, chairman of the union grievance committee. "They want to take away our S&A [sickness and accident pay] and callback rights. In their proposal retirees' insurance would have a $20,000 lifetime maximum benefit. We lost our dental and eye care," he added.

The locked-out workers want wage parity with the McCook Metals plant near Chicago, owned by the same company as Scottsboro Aluminum, and improved health insurance for retirees. "The biggest issue is cost of living," said Jeff Steeley, who works in the finish department.

"We're just getting close to where we were in 1983 and now they want to chop us back down 70 cents," Bellomy continued. New hires in the labor pool start at $8.50 an hour and electricians top out at $15.30 an hour.

An October 21 letter from the company outraged the unionists. "If employees decide they want to continue to earn wages and benefits to provide for their family — or for any other reason — employees have the right not to strike and to come to work and cross a picket line," wrote Robert McDole, the company's general manager. "If employees withdraw or resign their membership in the USWA before they cross a picket line, they could not be subject to fines or other union discipline."

The boss also warns, "If employees are permanently replaced, it could be a matter of months — or it could be years — before vacancies occur."

No one from the union has crossed the line.

"They're just trying to scandalize the union, trying to get you to withdraw," said Samuel Nichols, who is one of about 30 Black workers locked out of the plant.

"They had plans of separating us out but it brought us together," added Donnie Hancock, a maintenance mechanic.

The aluminum workers were happy to receive the solidarity of two Steelworkers from the Birmingham area. They were familiar with the Kaiser Aluminum lockout and several were interested in reading about it in the Militant. Workers from Lozier, a local store fixtures plant had visited too, according to one of the women workers.

"We need all their [unions'] support," said Jimmy Myers, a furnace operator in the cast shop who said he's been supporting linemen at North Alabama Electric who are trying to organize a union. "If you have time, go support other union fights."  
 

New Zealand nurses demand equal pay raise

Canterbury Health is contracted by the government to run health services in the Christchurch region. At its other hospitals workers received a 4 percent pay increase over a two-and-a-half-year period. The company claims that because the strikers have a higher base rate they should not get the same increase.

In effect what Canterbury Health is saying is "no reward for two and half years." That is "not acceptable," Wilson added.

Organized in two hourly blocks, the strike action was staggered to cover most shifts. At Christchurch Women's workers organized picket lines during the morning and afternoon walkouts. A union meeting was held for night shift workers.

On the picket line nurses held placards with slogans reading, "Canterbury Health under values women's health workers. It doesn't pay to care," and, "The way nurses are treated is enough to make you sick."

More than half the cars tooted in support as they drove past. Fliers were also distributed to passersby explaining the issues in the strike.

Joining the nurses on the picket line were workers organized by the Public Service Association; Hotel, Hospital, Restaurant and Related Trades Union; and the National Union of Public Employees, who were also offered the same inferior contract. Like the nurses, they have been working without a contract since December 1998.

Further strike action is being planned. 
 

Tool and Engineering strikers vote down offer

The strike will mark its first full year on November 28 and although a few more workers have gone in, the majority of strikers remain adamant in their attitude of fighting this battle out to the end.

The latest offer was virtually identical to the proposals that provoked the strike in the first place. On the two central issues in dispute there was no change. William Farley, owner of the company, wants single workers to pay $75 per month for medical insurance and married workers to pay $150 a month. In addition he proposes wage classifications that would amount to enormous wage cuts. Pete Suljic declared, "After 26 years I would be making only $8 an hour, when I was making $16."

Paul Baquet, who has 24 years at the plant, is part of the negotiating committee. He said about 60–70 workers met for about three and half hours the week before to discuss the contract and then came back to vote on it the next week.

For a few months a number of outreach activities were organized by the local. These included leafleting at the Chicago Opera House where Farley is a member of the governing board, and on the subway line.

Kristin Meriam and Susan LaMont, members of the USWA in Birmingham, Alabama; Ruth Gray in Christchurch; and John George in Chicago contributed to this column.  
 
 
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