USW Calls on Sherwin Alumina to Release Financial Costs of Lockout

CONTACT: Ben Lilienfeld: (832) 556-0370, blilienfeld@usw.org

GREGORY, Texas (March 13, 2015) — The United Steelworkers (USW) today responded to comments made by Sherwin Alumina on March 9th regarding its financial and operating results.

Sherwin Alumina complains that the union has commented on the financial results reported by Glencore, Sherwin’s ultimate parent company. Information on Sherwin Alumina is indeed limited by the fact that Sherwin Alumina does not disclose its financial results and its parent, Glencore, only publishes limited information for its “aluminium/alumina” business within its “industrial” segment.

“Sherwin can eliminate any confusion by releasing its detailed financial results for the fourth quarter and year of 2014,” said USW District 13 Director Ruben Garza. “We call on Sherwin to disclose the cost of the illegal lockout and its estimate of the cost savings generated by its demand for concessions.”

“The community also has the right to know the amount the company has paid to replacement workers, contractors and security forces brought in from outside the area and state,” said Ben Lilienfeld, USW District 13 Sub-District Director. “Sherwin’s illegal lockout has hurt this community.”

“But most of all, Sherwin Alumina should end this illegal lockout, allow its employees to return to work and bargain a fair contract,” said Garza.

On October 11, 2014, Sherwin locked out 450 USW members at its alumina refinery in Gregory, Texas. The union’s unfair labor practice charges challenging the legality of the current lockout are being investigated by Region 16 of the National Labor Relations Board.

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USW District 13 represents more than 50,000 members in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. The USW is the largest industrial union in North America, representing workers in a range of industries including metals, mining, rubber, paper and forestry, oil refining, health care, security, hotels, and municipal governments.

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