Alcoa Intalco Works, one of only seven primary aluminum smelters remaining in the United States, announced on April 22 that it was shutting down its Ferndale, WA plant and laying off 700 IAM-represented workers.
U.S. Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), along with U.S. Reps. Suzan DelBene and Rick Larsen (D-WA) recently sent a letter to Alcoa President and CEO Roy Harvey, urging the company to work with the IAM to find a solution to the forthcoming layoffs at Alcoa’s Intalco plant in Ferndale, WA.
Read: Lawmakers, machinists union urge Alcoa, Trump to find a way to avoid closing Ferndale aluminum plant Seattle Times
The lawmakers took aim at the timing of Pittsburgh-based Alcoa’s decision in their letter to Harvey.
“This is the second time in five years that Alcoa has announced that it would curtail operations at Intalco, and it is deeply distressing that the company chose to make this announcement in the middle of a pandemic,” the letter states.
The IAM is also asking President Trump to use all means necessary, including the Defense Production Act, to save 700 jobs at a strategically important aluminum smelter in the Pacific Northwest.
TAKE ACTION: Ask President Trump to take all necessary actions to save U.S. steel production