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USW: ATI must end illegal lockout of 2,200 workers

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PITTSBURGH – Allegheny Technologies Inc. released its fourth-quarter and year-end earnings report Tuesday. The Pittsburgh-based specialty steelmaker reported a loss of $226.9 million and a 29 percent decline in sales during the October-December period. The loss was higher than expected.

ATI also reported a $377.9 million loss for 2015, $3.53 a share.

The news came as the company’s lockout of 2,200 United Steelworkers members headed toward the six-month mark. ATI locked out workers at 12 plants in Pennsylvania and five other states Aug. 15. Until then, employees worked under terms of a contract that expired June 30.

ATI operates the Allegheny Ludlum plate mill in Canton Township, which has about 220 members of USW Local 7139-5.

Tom Conway, vice president of the USW International, issued a statement following the report. It said in part:

“It’s immoral and a disgrace that ATI continues to keep 2,200 workers illegally locked out of their jobs while behaving as if this is business as usual. As today’s earnings report made very clear, this type of reckless and irresponsible management has had a devastating effect on the company’s bottom line and on its standing in the community.

“ATI’s weak fourth quarter follows an equally bleak third-quarter report. This should come as no surprise to anyone who has been paying attention. The key to any company’s success is a skilled, experienced work force. For the past six months, ATI has turned its back on these dedicated employees and their families.

” … locking out workers and forcing them to accept deep, permanent and unnecessary cuts in wages and benefits will do absolutely nothing to solve this crisis. As we saw today, this approach only makes a bad situation worse.

“The USW is committed to continuing to bargain in good faith on a fair contract, and we hope that ATI is interested in doing the same.”

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