Story Photos
 Photo by Bill Wagner Members of United Steelworkers of America Local 305 and their supporters line-up Saturday outside the Longview Aluminum smelter on Industrial Way. Former smelter workers began a 24-hour-a-day vigil outside the plant after the rally. |
Workers mount vigil; seek time for smelter
Sunday, November 2, 2003 9:26 AM PST
By Hope Anderson
Printable version
E-mail this articlePassing vehicles tooted horns and arms shot out of car windows in front of the Longview Aluminum plant Saturday afternoon where former workers and their families began a vigil to protest a possible sale of the plant's assets.
Members of the United Steelworkers of America Local 305, their supporters and families say they will huddle under tents and hold signs along Industrial Way outside the smelter 24 hours a day in protest of the plant's possible liquidation.
"I would rather be doing this than the last two years of frustration," said Cheri Payne of Kelso, the wife of a former steelworker.
Wes Wheeler, the president of the Longview Federated Aluminum Council, said he would like a grace period of 60 to 90 days before scrapping the plant.
"There's no point in rushing it," Wheeler said. "We will not turn away so our plant can be carved into scrap."
A bankruptcy trustee -- hoping to pay off the smelter's debts -- told The Daily News last month that he would break up the idle plant and sell its pieces at auction if current negotiations with a buyer fell through.
He also said a delay would eat into the equity of the plant, and he has had to continue selling off the plant's assets to pay for the ongoing costs, such as power for pollution-control equipment.
The steelworkers' financial advisors are pursuing other options to keep the plant open, such as a different buyer or an employee-owned situation, and they need more time, said Gaylan Prescott of Longview, the staff representative.
The plant, under Reynolds ownership, had been an economic mainstay of Longview for decades and employed more than 900 workers.
Michael Lynch and several partners purchased the plant in early 2001 and promptly shut it down, receiving $226 million from the Bonneville Power Administration during an energy crisis. They filed for bankruptcy last summer.
William Brandt, the bankruptcy trustee, said last month he had one potential buyer.
Brandt estimated the value of Longview Aluminum's equipment at $12 million to $15 million, enough to cover some of the company's debts, but not all of them.
He could not be reached for comment Saturday.
Dozens of workers and their families, bundled in jackets and gloves, waved to passing cars along Industrial Way on Saturday holding signs that read "Keep my Daddy's job" and "Save our plant." Next weekend, they hope to have 1,000 protesters outside the plant.
Jerry Payne, 48, worked 28 years at the plant and though he would like to see it reopen, he doesn't know how realistic it is. But something needs to be done, he said.
"I think this whole scenario is coming to a head. ... If they can open up, it'd be great," Payne said.
John Nolte, 54, put in 26 years at the smelter, but now he is commuting to Portland for a mechanic job.
He would like to "someday be able to work in town again."
"It's worth a try, all you can do is try," Nolte said. "Pretty soon, someone's going to have to notice."
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