Striking Steelworkers, Allies Rally for Kentucky Workers’ Rights

[Omaha Steve]

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News From USW: Striking Steelworkers, Allies Rally for Kentucky Workers’ Rights

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LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--News From USW: More than 100 Steelworkers, members of Kentucky Jobs with Justice, religious leaders, members of other unions, politicians, and community allies today demonstrated at the Louisville headquarters of Interlock Industries, the holding company for Ohio Valley Aluminum Company (OVACO), calling on management to respect workers’ rights and community values.

The day kicked off with a rally at Jefferson Square Park followed by a march to company headquarters. Participants chanted and carried signs protesting the company’s labor law violations and refusal to bargain fairly a first union contract covering workers at OVACO’s Shelbyville, Ky., plant, who are represented by United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1693.

A delegation of Steelworkers led by USW District 8 Director Billy Thompson entered Interlock headquarters in an effort to discuss with company officials how to settle the dispute. An Interlock representative demanded they leave.

“Our community is coming together to demand that Interlock’s OVACO respect workers’ rights,” stated USW Local 1693 President Kevin Baird. “It’s time for the company to sit down and bargain fairly.”

The Steelworkers have filed numerous Unfair Labor Practice charges against OVACO with the federal government, including charges that the company illegally implemented changes in the terms of employment, eliminated jobs in areas where union support is strongest and refused to supply pertinent work-related information to union negotiators.

FULL story at link.