AK Steel and USW Reach Labor Agreement for Ashland Coke Plant

AK Steel, West Chester, Ohio has announced that members of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 8-523 have ratified a new three-year labor agreement covering approximately 240 hourly production and maintenance employees at the company’s Ashland, Kentucky coke plant.

The new agreement takes effect immediately and runs through October 31, 2011. It replaces an agreement that would have expired on October 31, 2008.

“We are pleased that members of USW Local 8-523 have ratified a new agreement well ahead of the scheduled expiration of the former agreement,” says James L. Wainscott, chairman, president and CEO of AK Steel. “This new contract continues to address AK Steel’s need for competitive and flexible labor agreements.”

AK Steel says that the new contract provides Ashland coke plant employees with competitive wages and benefits, including wage increases and a signing bonus.