Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-28
MoiorAIuminum WoIkout Threatened
AS 2-Week Steel Strike Continues

NEW YORK, July % (AP).
A major strike in the alumni
mum industry was threatened
today as negotiations in the
two-week -old steel strike re-
manned deadlocked.
David j. Mcdonald, president
OF the United Steelworkers Of
America, said he expected no
agreement in the aluminium in
dustry before contracts with
major firms expire at midnight
Friday,
Mr.. Mcdonald, whose union
represents workers in alumni
mum as we'll as steel, said the
same mo contract, no work"
policy covers both industries.
The copper industry also
faced a possible strike threat.
officials of the Mine, Mill and
Smelter Workers Union were
reported considering a strike
against the Nations copper
plants and mines next month.
The unions contracts expired
June 80, but its members are
working while negotiations con-
tinue.
Steel Meeting Held
Steel industry and union rep
reSentativeS met jointly yester-
day for the first time since the
Nationwide steel strike began.
Joseph F. Finnegan, director
of the Federal Mediation and
Cancellation Service, told news
men after the tWo-hour session:
There was an exchange of
viewpoints by the parties, but
can't say anything beyond
that. I don't think there was
any substantial change in the
position of either party"
Mr.. Finnegan scheduled sep =
arate meetings with both sides
today. But there was no i'm
mediate plan for joint talks.
The situation doesn't look
good" Mr.. Finnegan said.
The strike threat in the alu-
minum industry is against ,the
Big Three-the Aluminium Co.
of America (Alcoa). the Rey-
noldS Metals Co., and the Kali
ser Aluminium & Chemical Corp.
Negotiations Continue
Contract negotiations in the
aluminium industry are con-
tinuing here with the help of
Federal mediators, but no
progress toward agreement has
been reported.
The big three aluminium pro-
ducerS - like the major steel
companies - have rejected a
United SteelWorkers' demand .
for a wage increase of Is cents
an hour in each year of the
new contract. The aluminium
companies, like the steel COM
panieS. have proposed a one
year wage freeze.
The Ormet Corp, the fourth
big aluminium producer with
a contract with the Steelwork-
erS Union expiring Friday, has
not answered the unions de-
mand formally. But Ormet,
which is owned jointly by |
the DIN Mathieson Chemical
Corp. and Revere Copper and
Brass Inc, is expected to go
along with the Big Three in
turning down the unions pro-
posals.
A strike against the Big
Three and Ormet would affect
10000 workers and close about
81 per cent of the Nations
primary aluminium production.
Union Sends Out Orders
Mr.. Mcdonald said he had
given orders to his union for
an orderly shutdown of the
aluminium mills if negotiations
fail.
An aluminium industry
spokesman said an orderly
shutdown requires 48 to 70
hours to tap and cool the pot
lines in the production plants.
Alcoa and Reynolds are ne
gotiating with the Aluminium
Workers International Union,
as we'll as with the United
Steelworkers of America.
If the Aluminium Workers
Union struck along with the
Steelworkers. an additional Is
per cent of the total United
States aluminium capacity
would be cloSed-raising the
shutdown total to 81 per cent.
The Aluminium Workers Union
has presented demands similar
to those of the Steelworkers,
but no strike threat has been
made.
Inconclusive meetings were
held yesterday between Reyn-
olds and the Aluminium Work.
ers and between Kaiser and
the Steelworkers.
Various aluminium meetings
were scheduled for today.