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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Arconic workers walk the picket line

Credit: WLFI
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Arconic workers walk the picket line
Arconic workers walk the picket line

Arconic workers are saying their jobs are on the line after recent decisions made by the company.

Saying their jobs are on the line after recent decisions made by the company.

News 18's marvin bills spoke with a few of those workers today.

Marvin: the people you see behind me aren't having a picnic they are picketing and organizers i spoke with today tell me they are fighting for their jobs.

Nat pop "it's really been hard to swallow."

Workers for arconic stood outside for nearly 10 hours with a message, one they hope to convey to the company.

"they've contracted out work in two major departments and we have people laid off and the impact is not only to our membership but also to the lafayette community."

Spencer buchanan has worked at arconic for more than 25 years.

And he's the president of u-s-w local 115 which is the labor union that represents many workers at arconic.

"we have roughly 100 people laid off.

There could be more reduction."

Buchanan says the company is outsourcing jobs and claims it's to save costs but it's leaving dozens of workers jobless.

Nat pop "i've never seen anything like what they are doing now."

Vice president of u-s- w local 115 scott wolendowski says it seemed to be a gradual move for the company.

"we are on reduced hours.

Usually we have overtime on the weekends.

Our maintenance department could leave for the weekend friday and drive by the place and see their outside contractors doing their work and it's just not right."

Among the picketers was retired arconic employee duane lord who after being with the company for 23 years retired last november.

"when they started outsourcing the metal and not pouring it into our department which was the ingot department, i figured the writing was on the wall it was time for me to get out of here cause i couldn't support this anymore."

Marvin: organizers tell me they plan on having more events to get the word out on what they say is happening at arconic.

Mb, news 18.

Arconic released a statement to news 18 responding to workers saying: as always, our goal is to continue to perform well as a team in maintaining a safe work environment and produng high strength aluminum products for our customers.

The company has openly communicated with the union and followed the collectively-bargained agreements on all workplace issues and will continue to do so.

The company also recognizes and respects the union's right to conduct informational picketing.

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