Strike averted at Alcoa's Intalco smelter as union accepts deal

London

WORKERS at Alcoa's Intalco Works aluminium smelter voted to accept the company's final contract offer, staving off a second labour dispute at a US smelter this year as prices tumble below production costs. "The contract was accepted," the international Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers said on its website.

Contract negotiations began on Oct 1 between Alcoa and the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers Local 2379, which represents 500 of the 560 workers at the 230,000 tonne-per-year smelter in Ferndale, Washington.