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AK Steel Reaches 76-Month Labor Accord

6 December 1999

AK Steel Reaches 76-Month Labor Accord with Middletown Independent Union AK STEEL CORPORATION LOGO AK Steel Corporation logo. (PRNewsFoto)[DM] MIDDLETOWN, OH USA 09/01/1999    

    MIDDLETOWN, Ohio, Dec. 3 -- AK Steel said today
that its Middletown hourly workforce has ratified a new 76-month labor
agreement by more than a five-to-one margin.  The company said about 73% of
the 3,200 eligible AEIF-represented employees voted on the terms of the new
contract, which are effective retroactively to November 1, 1999.  The vote
totals provided to the company by the AEIF were 1,961 in favor, 379 opposed.
The new pact replaces the parties' current agreement that was set to expire
February 29, 2000.
    (Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990901/AKSLOGO )
    "We are pleased hourly employees of Middletown Works have overwhelmingly
approved a new 76-month contract," said Richard M. Wardrop, Jr., chairman and
chief executive officer of AK Steel.  "Reaching this agreement means we will
enter the second century of steelmaking at Middletown Works with a labor
relations and customer assurance record that continues to be unparalleled in
the industry."
    The company noted that production at the Middletown Works has been
disrupted by a labor dispute for only seven days in 99 years of continuous
operation, a record unmatched in the integrated steel industry.
    Although the company did not disclose complete details of the new
agreement, it calls for a $2.50 per hour base wage increase over the life of
the contract, no-layoff guarantees, improved pension benefits, guaranteed
overtime for trade and craft employees and signing bonuses.
    AK Steel produces flat-rolled carbon, stainless and electrical steel
products for automotive, appliance, construction and manufacturing markets, as
well as standard pipe and tubular steel products.  AK Steel is headquartered
in Middletown, Ohio.  It employs about 11,500 men and women in plants and
offices in Middletown, Coshocton, Mansfield, Warren and Zanesville, Ohio;
Ashland, Kentucky; Rockport, Indiana; and Butler, Sharon and Wheatland,
Pennsylvania.  AK Steel also produces snow and ice control products, and
operates a major industrial park on the Houston, Texas ship channel.
Additional information about AK Steel is available on the company's web site
at http://www.aksteel.com .