USW applies pressure as deadline on Quebec aluminum smelter lockout nears

Louisville, Kentucky — With the clock ticking to a Friday deadline, the Canadian United Steelworkers union ramped up pressure on Alcoa on Wednesday in hopes of reaching a negotiated solution to a more than 10-month lockout at the 450,000 mt/year Aluminerie de Becancour aluminum smelter in Quebec.

ABI has been allowed to invoke a force majeure clause in its power supply contract with the government-owned utility to suspend its contractual obligations since Alcoa imposed the lockout affecting 1,030 union employees on January 11.

Alcoa owns 75% of the smelter, with Rio Tinto owning the remaining 25%.

Bargaining continued Wednesday with the assistance of a special mediator.

However, if a tentative agreement is not reached by the end of the day Friday, the Quebec government is expected to present a proposed settlement to both the union and companies by December 7.

The USW says the government can only ask for approval of such a proposal, but lacks the legal authority to impose a new contract on the parties.

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