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Contract Talks Continue
Warrick Operations is one of 15 locations in the United States covered by Alcoa’s master agreement contract with the United Steelworkers of America (USW). The current contract, which expires on May 31st, covers nearly 9,000 workers including 1500 at Warrick. Four key issues have received most of the attention leading up to these talks, including healthcare for active employees; retiree healthcare; benefits for new hourly employees; and contracting out.
Healthcare – Hourly employees currently do not pay a monthly premium and Alcoa has proposed employees begin to contribute like approximately 32,000 other Alcoa U.S. employees already do.
Retiree Healthcare – Alcoa and the USW previously agreed the company could engage a cap on retiree healthcare costs. Retirees currently do not pay any monthly premiums. Alcoa plans to engage the cap this year. This does not mean coverage will be reduced, simply that retirees will begin to pay for the increased costs.
New Hire Benefits – While pay scales would stay the same, Alcoa has proposed that when new employees are hired they would have a different benefit program. This would help control future costs while still providing a competitive benefits package.
Contracting Out – Alcoa needs to contract out certain types of work where it can’t be done competitively with in-house employees, when we don’t have the right equipment or skills, or when we don’t have the right number of people for intermittent work.
If you want to see information on the negotiations and issues you can go to the Alcoa negotiations website at www.alcoanegotiations.com. While you are on the site you can sign up to get automatic e-mail updates.
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Alcoa Foundation gives more than $260,000 to Area Organizations
At a reception and press conference on Monday, April 15th, Warrick Operations announced more than $260,000 in Alcoa Foundation grants to 28 nonprofit organizations working in Vanderburgh, Warrick, and Spencer Counties. These funds are a part of more than $15 million that will be distributed around the world by Alcoa Foundation this year.
Each year, the Warrick Operations Community Advisory Board – a group of 20 elected officials; business, nonprofit, and educational leaders; and media representatives – reviews the applications received and recommends what projects should be funded. In 2006, the group evaluated nearly 100 requests that totaled more than $1.4 Million before making final funding recommendations.
“Southwestern Indiana is a great place to live because everyone comes together to do good work for the community. There are some tremendous organizations at work here, and it’s an honor to be able to help them accomplish their goals,” said Ann Whitty, Vice President and General Manager of Alcoa Warrick Operations. “Our Community Advisory Board is a great example of people giving back to the community. We truly appreciate the time that these very busy people give to review the applications and recommend how we should invest our Alcoa Foundation funds.”
Royce Haws, Primary Metals Location Manager, added, “The Alcoa Foundation funds make a substantial difference to the organizations that receive them. It’s just one way that we give back to the local community, and it’s rewarding to know that the funds will be used by great organizations to make the lives of area residents even better.”
"We're thrilled that Alcoa Foundation has chosen to sponsor our Waterworks exhibit," said December Warren, Executive Director, Hands On Discovery Children’s Museum. "As one of the area's major corporate citizens, their gesture is a sterling example of just how the community has come together to support the new children's museum and the opportunities it will bring to children from throughout the Tri-State.”
For a list of 2006 grants, go to: Click here
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First Annual Community Meeting
On Monday, April 10th, Warrick Operations hosted the First Annual Community Meeting. Nearly 100 community members attended to hear information about Alcoa and our local operations. After a formal presentation, the attendees broke into smaller groups to learn more about our efforts and give us their feedback about our commitment to sustainability. The feedback received will be used to shape our communications throughout the year and as we plan for a similar meeting in 2007.
Some of the feedback received included:
What Did You Hear That You Liked?
- Investment in the future of Alcoa.
- Lowering of emissions, more stringent controls.
- The concept of this meeting itself.
- Community Advisory Board involvement.
- Good to hear about new product lines being developed.
- The electronic newsletter is great.
- Hiring approx. 100 high wage Alcoans.
- Investment in community through capital investment and Alcoa Foundation.
What Did You Hear That You Didn’t Like?
- Healthcare and consumerism. Hopefully people will get the medications they need.
- Plans for new plants, only one in North American and that one was in Canada.
What Did You Expect Or Would Like To Hear More About?
- What does Alcoa need from the community?
- More demographic information on our aging workforce
- % of day-to-day services/goods comes from local support
- Add emerging technology in future presentation
- % of Alcoa power demand is generated by Alcoa P.P.?
If you would like to view the presentation made that evening, it is available here
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Warrick Power Plant Project Update
Work continues at the Warrick Power Plant. A major undertaking in April was pouring the foundation for the first of two new stacks that will be built as part of the strategic environmental project.
At 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 15th, work started to pour more than 2500 yards of concrete. The work ended at 12:00 noon with more than 20 trucks rolling through each hour to keep the concrete running. The project included more than 100 employees from several regional contractors working a total of 1258 safe man-hours with no incidents, accidents or lost time injuries.
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Alcoans provide support to public TV
Several Warrick Operations' employees and family members participated in an ACTION event supporting the WNIN Action Auction on Wednesday, April 26th. The time spent by the employees earned a $3000 grant for WNIN. This is an annual event that families look forward to as a way to support the local public TV and radio stations, so they can continue to deliver our favorite programs like Sesame Street and All Things Considered. LaVega West, an engineer in the Hot Mill, worked alongside his wife and son at the Auction and found that it was "a lot of fun spending other people's money!"
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Newburgh Alcoan recognized as noteworthy alum at Indiana State University
Paul Woerz of Newburgh, global director of environmental health and safety for Automotive, Aerospace and Commercial Transportation Group of Alcoa Inc., has been named a recipient of the 2005-06 Distinguished Alumni Award by Indiana State University's College of Health and Human Performance.
Woerz, who graduated from ISU in 1973 with a B.S. in safety management, was honored at ISU's College of Health and Human Performance annual Recognition Banquet on April 14.
As the global director, Woerz supervises all locations world-wide in strategic and tactical safety, health and environmental efforts. Woerz's memberships include the American Society of Engineers and Indiana State University's College of Health and Human Performance Advisory Board.
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Safety School Plays a Role in Saving Employee’s Life
Potroom employee Jason Ebelhar and his wife recently purchased a home in Owensboro, KY that they hope to make rental property following a few improvements. While Jason had attended the last few Alcoa Safety Schools, this year, he opted to participate in the electrical safety session offered by Vectren. This may well have been the most important hour that he spent that day.
The day before, Jason had been removing roofing from the rental home and unknown to him at the time was working in very close proximity to a 440 KV line. “I had walked over it several times and thought it was a phone line or a cable line,” said Ebelhar. “I didn’t realize that due to the age of the house that the power connection was from a utility pole as opposed to the lines being run underground.”
He said that the next day that he returned and got back on the roof he kneeled down and looked closer at the cable an then at the pole running adjacent at some distance. “It hit me like a brick when I realized this was a live line,” said Jason. “I know that I would have touched it at some point.”
A local contractor was working inside the home. Jason immediately got off the roof and asked the contractor to come take a look. The contractor verified that this was indeed a 440 line and suggested that Jason phone the local utility to cut the power.
“I called the next day and went to spend some quality time with the family,” said Jason. “I can’t help but think that if I hadn’t attended that session at Safety School that I may not be here to share this story. Now if there is a job that I’m unfamiliar doing, I stop and look at the big picture.”
Jason Ebelhar resides in Owensboro with his wife and three children.
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Business Achievement Awards
More than 170 Warrick Alcoans were recognized for their efforts to improve the business at an annual dinner on Thursday, April 6th. Awards are distributed each year for outstanding achievement in areas of Individual and Group Technical Achievement; Environment, Health and Safety; Cost Improvement; and implementation of the Alcoa Business System.
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Warrick Alcoans Give the Gift of Life
On April 6th, 66 employees donated blood to the American Red Cross, surpassing the goal of getting 60 good units of blood. The numbers include six new donors who had never given blood before. “Alcoa employees continue to show their support for the community by giving the very personal donation of blood,” said Stacy Linder of the Southwestern Indiana American Red Cross. “Each donation will help to save a life of someone in the tri-state.” To learn how you can give the gift of life, visit: www.givelife.org.
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