CENTURY ALUMINUM TALKS Efforts Underway To Re-Open Shuttered Jackson Co. Facility
Reported by: Kennie Bass
Videographer: John Tincher
Web Producer: Kennie Bass
Reported: Feb. 21, 2012 6:07 PM EST
EYEWITNESS ONLINE WEBCAST VIDEO C L I C K T O P L A Y
Charleston
, Kanawha County
, West Virginia
Blaming a drop in aluminum prices and rising costs to operate, Century Alumimum shuttered its Ravenswood plant three years ago. More than 650 people lost their jobs.
But now...with new company leadership, there is hope that the plant's smelters will be fired up once again.
However, for that to happen three things must be accomplished. First, some type of health care package has to be hammered out for retirees, who have lost all of their promised benefits.
Once the retirees are taken care of...lawmakers would have to pass a bill allowing Century to have flexible utility rates. If the cost of aluminum went down...so would the company's electric bill.
If both of these goals are reached, Century would then have to make a new deal with its union workers.
It's estimated Century would re-open with about 450 jobs...paying an average of 60-thousand dollars a year.
After a year, another 80 to 100 jobs would be added...giving hard hit Jackson County a much-needed economic boost.
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Kennie Bass
