FERNDALE, Wash. – The machinists union representing Alcoa Intalco workers in Ferndale accuse the company of not “putting up a fight” to save the plant and its roughly 700 workers.
Alcoa said last month it would close the Ferndale smelter by late July, prompting an outcry from local lawmakers and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
The Seattle Times reports union representatives want to sit down with Alcoa to brainstorm ways to make the plant more financially competitive, such as modernizing the facility and asking the President to increase tariffs on cheap Chinese aluminum flooding the global market.
Alcoa maintains the plant is beyond saving.
While a minimal crew will stay on to care for infrastructure and equipment, the machinists union presented all other workers with a negotiated severance package.