The United Steelworkers Union Local 105 is voting on a new contract with Alcoa on Friday, June 6, 2014 at Scott Community College in Riverdale.
On Wednesday, May 14, 2014, the union held an informational picket outside its plant in Riverdale. On Thursday, May 15, 2014, the two sides had to come to a tentative agreement, and union members said they very happy.
The union wanted a tier one pension system for its future employees, and according to them, that's exactly what they received. It means that future employees would be under the same benefit plan as the current ones. The company refers to the tier one pension system as a defined benefit program.
"The best case scenario is that we want a good benefits package," USW Local 105 Secretary Mike Nicholas said on May 14. "We don't want any second class citizens, no two tier pensions, no two tier wages."
Ratification votes started as early as 5 a.m Friday. They go until 7:30 p.m. at Scott Community College. There are also informational sessions going on for the union members. Those remaining sessions are being held at 1:30 p.m., 3:20 p.m., and 6:20 p.m. Friday at the college.