2020 Alabama aluminum plant strike
DateDecember 15, 2020 – January 12, 2021
(28 days)
Location
Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Parties

The 2020 Alabama aluminum plant strike is a labor strike that occurred in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States from December 2020 to January 2021. The strike involved approximately 400 members of the United Steelworkers Local 200, over alleged unfair labor practices by Constellium, a multinational producer of aluminum products who operate a manufacturing plant.

Background

In January 2015,[1] the company Wise Metals was acquired by French-based multinational aluminum products manufacturer Constellium. As part of the acquisition, Constellium gained ownership of an aluminum sheet metal manufacturing plant in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The plant primarily produces sheet metal for use in drink cans and has contracts with several major companies, including Budweiser.[2] In 2020, the plant was one of 25 operated by Constellium across China, Europe, and North America, with 13,000 employees worldwide.[2][3] A previous labor strike against Constellium involved 700 workers and took place at an aluminum plant in Ravenswood, West Virginia in 2012.[2] In 2020, the Muscle Shoals plant employed 1,200 workers,[4] making the plant the city's largest employer. Many of the workers are union members of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 200.[5] On November 1, 2020, after months of failed labor contract negotiations between the union and Constellium, the contract expired. According to the union's district director, safety and seniority were the primary points of dispute, with the director alleging that the contract proposed by Constellium would have given management "unchecked authority" over scheduling.[3]

Course of the strike

On December 15, 2020, Constellium was notified by USW that local members had voted to reject the most recent collective bargaining proposal, and on midnight, the local members officially went on strike.[5] Strikers are alleging unfair labor practices by Constellium and have picketed the plant.[3] USW President Tom Conway stated that the strike would continue until Constellium "comes to their senses" and, speaking about concessions requested by the company, said "there's no need for what they're asking for."[4] The strike is occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] On December 16, strikers began picketing in the parking lot outside of the plant.[6]

On January 1, 2021, a mediator held discussions between union and company representatives.[7] On January 12, union members ended the strike and returned to work following the ratification of a five-year contract with the company.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Taylor, Brian (December 29, 2020). "Strike underway at Constellium Alabama UBC consuming facility". Recycling Today. Archived from the original on December 31, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Goldstein, Jessica (December 20, 2020). "Over 400 metalworkers on strike at Constellium aluminum plant in Alabama". World Socialist Web Site. International Committee of the Fourth International. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 "400 United Steelworkers on strike at Alabama aluminum plant". Associated Press. December 17, 2020. Archived from the original on December 17, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  4. 1 2 Deaux, Joe (December 17, 2020). "Union Workers Strike at Constellium Alabama Aluminum Plant". Bloomberg News. Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 Terry, Breken (December 16, 2020). "United Steelworkers, Constellium employees on strike in Muscle Shoals". WAAY-TV. Archived from the original on December 20, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Constellium union workers picket after walking off job". WAFF. December 16, 2020. Archived from the original on December 31, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  7. ↑ Corey, Russ (January 3, 2021). "Steelworkers, Constellium hold discussions with mediator on Friday". TimesDaily. Archived from the original on January 3, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  8. ↑ Gascoigne, Cordell; Goldstein, Jessica (January 16, 2021). "United Steelworkers betrays Constellium strike in Alabama after weeks of isolating workers". World Socialist Web Site. International Committee of the Fourth International. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
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