Letter from District 11 Director Drummond to Local 7686

Click here to read a PDF version of this letter.

Dear Members of USW Local 7686:

Our union was shocked and disappointed when we were notified on January 24, 2024, that Magnitude 7 unilaterally decided to shut down the smelter effective immediately.

Mag 7 took this action without discussing, bargaining or even notifying the USW of its intent to curtail operations by January 28, 2024, giving employees who dedicated years of loyalty and service a mere three-to-five days' notice that they were losing their jobs.

In addition to its clear failure to provide adequate notice under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, the USW believes Mag 7 violated its contract with the union and engaged in a coordinated series of actions that we will request the appropriate government agencies to investigate.

In the meantime, the USW will do everything it can to mitigate the effects of Mag 7's devastating mismanagement on the members of Local 7686 and their families, including outreach to the Missouri Department of Workforce Development through the AFL-CIO's dislocated workers' program.

We stand with you now and always. We will be fighting with you in every venue we can and will work to secure every resource available to help support you and your family in this difficult time.

To get the latest updates and information on available resources, please make sure to sign-up for text alerts by texting 7686 to the phone number 47486.

In solidarity,

Cathy Drummond
Director, District 11