Labor and management representatives from Alcoa Intalco Works in Ferndale, WA and the Wenatchee Works in Malaga, WA, joined Washington state Governor Christine Gregoire in Olympia, WA, recently for the signing of a bill that will protect thousands of aluminium workers’ jobs in the Northwest.
Gregoire noted that the Intalco smelter creates a total of 2,000 jobs, counting the direct and indirect economic impact. "This is about the entire state," she said. "The loss of 2,000 jobs here would be absolutely devastating."
“The IAM has been pivotal in the battle to protect these good jobs for over a decade,” said Western Territory GVP Gary Allen. “Today, Governor Gregoire and so many representatives of this state have stood up to defend living wage jobs and keep a vital industry alive in the Pacific Northwest. Local 2379 Recording Secretary Hugh Diehl, District 160 DBR Dan Morgan, and Don Hursey before him, have worked long and tirelessly to make this agreement come to fruition. They have done a good job for this membership and the community.”
