10-year deal ensures jobs for Whatcom Co. workers
FERNDALE, Wash. (AP) - A new, decade-long electric power supply deal is ensuring jobs for hundreds of aluminum smelter workers in Whatcom County.
The Bonneville Power Administration and Alcoa Intalco Works signed the contract on Friday. The Bellingham Herald reports (http://is.gd/VLQO02 ) that the deal ends years of job uncertainty for 625 Alcoa workers.
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, Gov. Chris Gregoire and U.S. Reps. Rick Larsen and Suzan DelBene were on hand as the agreement was signed at the smelter's assembly hall west of Ferndale.
Power supply disruptions led to the shutdown of most of the other aluminum smelters in the region over the past decade, and it idled Intalco for a time. Alcoa officials repeatedly warned that the smelter would have to close permanently without a contract guaranteeing long-term access to BPA's supply of relatively low-cost hydropower.
In recent years, Intalco has been operating with shorter-term power contracts that left workers fearful of what might happen next.
The Bonneville Power Administration and Alcoa Intalco Works signed the contract on Friday. The Bellingham Herald reports (http://is.gd/VLQO02 ) that the deal ends years of job uncertainty for 625 Alcoa workers.
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, Gov. Chris Gregoire and U.S. Reps. Rick Larsen and Suzan DelBene were on hand as the agreement was signed at the smelter's assembly hall west of Ferndale.
Power supply disruptions led to the shutdown of most of the other aluminum smelters in the region over the past decade, and it idled Intalco for a time. Alcoa officials repeatedly warned that the smelter would have to close permanently without a contract guaranteeing long-term access to BPA's supply of relatively low-cost hydropower.
In recent years, Intalco has been operating with shorter-term power contracts that left workers fearful of what might happen next.
At the collective bargaining agreement's expiration, the union obamatards will go on strike and the smelter jobs will move to a right to work state like "Michigan".
 @amigoingcrazy Dont worry about them. Your own miserable existence will be more and more unbearable especially as you get older. I hope you're up for some real discomfort in retirement.
I am glad the queen was up there they could not of signed it with out her,,,,, and how much did cost the taxpayers of the state to get her up there.......
Specifics? Did they get a discount on the price of electricity and now the rest of the citizens have to pay for higher rates? If that was the deal pull their plug.
Looks like a bunch of workers and Alcoa got a early Christmas present. Good for them.