Labor complaint: Allegheny Technologies lockout illegal
The National Labor Relations Board said the Allegheny Technologies Inc. lockout of 2,200 workers is illegal.
The complaint also said the company bargained in bad faith, threatened union members and violated terms of the last contract, which expired June 30.
The complaint was filed Thursday, a day after the sides last met in Pittsburgh trying to reach a contract that would end the lockout that began Aug. 15. The Pittsburgh-based specialty steelmaker has locked out workers at 12 plants in Pennsylvania and five other states.
Allegheny Technologies said the NLRB complaint is “not supported by the facts or the law,” but United Steelworkers president Leo Gerard said the complaint “validates” the union’s complaints against ATI.
The company has until Feb. 25 to file a response. An administrative law judge will hear the complaint May 23.
On Thursday, about 400 union workers, including 220 who work at ATI’s Allegheny Ludlum Plate Mill in Canton Township rallied at the site, continuing their quest for a fair contract.
As the half-hour rally took place, management and labor were holding talks in Pittsburgh. The meeting was attended by Skip Longdon of Local 7139-5, who said last week there was “slow movement.”