More Than 2,000 Union Workers Have Been Locked-Out since August in Ohio, Oregon, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania. Brown Will Rally with Steelworkers in Ohio on Friday.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), along with U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Chris Murphy (D-CT), today wrote to Richard Harshman, the President and CEO of Allegheny Technologies Inc. (ATI), urging him to work with the United Steelworkers (USW) to reach an agreement and end the five-month lockout that has left thousands out of work since August.
“We have seen employers and unions work together to resolve highly contentious disputes in the past,” said the Senators in their letter. “We believe that it is in the best interest of our constituents and ATI to reach a fair agreement that returns workers to their jobs. But that cannot happen if one party refuses to make meaningful moves at the bargaining table.”
The contact between ATI and USW ended on June 30 and the parties have not reached an agreement to renew the contract. ATI locked out employees at facilities in Ohio, Oregon, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is looking into the legality of the lockout, which has been ongoing since August.
Full text of the letter is below.
 
 
January 21, 2016
 
 
Richard Harshman
President and CEO
Allegheny Technologies
6 PPG Place
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
 
Dear Mr. Harshman:
We write to express our concern regarding Allegheny Technologies’ (ATI) ongoing lockout of 2,200 union workers. We urge you to negotiate in good faith with the representing union, the United Steelworkers (USW), to reach a fair compromise so both parties can move forward amicably.
According to reports, USW workers at your facilities in Ohio, Oregon, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania have been locked-out since August despite the union offering to continue to work while negotiations proceeded. The National Labor Relation’s Board (NLRB) offices in Pittsburgh and Seattle have found that there is sufficient evidence that these tactics violate federal labor laws and has issued a complaint against ATI. We find this troubling, and are particularly concerned that ATI refuses to negotiate in good faith while so many families’ livelihoods are at stake.
We have seen employers and unions work together to resolve highly contentious disputes in the past. The USW and U.S. Steel maintained negotiations and kept workers on the job even after their existing contract expired in September. The two parties reached a three-year agreement to in December to ensure fair wages for 18,000 employees.
We believe that it is in the best interest of our constituents and ATI to reach a fair agreement that returns workers to their jobs. But that cannot happen if one party refuses to make meaningful moves at the bargaining table.
Once again, we ask you negotiate in good faith so an agreement may be reached and both sides can continue producing quality, American-made products. We will continue monitoring these developments and look forward to a fair resolution in the very near future.
 
Sincerely,
 
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