Federal Court Grants AK Steel's Motion to Deny USWA Entry to Plant

25 February 2000

Federal Court Grants AK Steel's Motion to Deny USWA Entry to Plant

    MIDDLETOWN, Ohio--Feb. 24, 2000--AK Steel today said a federal court ruled in its favor on a motion to deny the United Steelworkers of America access to the company's Mansfield Works in connection with a potential OSHA inspection.
    Judge John M. Manos issued the ruling today from U.S. District Court in Cleveland. The ruling affirms the position AK Steel expressed Tuesday when inspectors from OSHA's Toledo office requested entry to the Mansfield plant. AK Steel told OSHA Tuesday it would grant its inspectors immediate access to the plant and its full cooperation in relation to a complaint the OSHA office received in January.
    However OSHA took the position that members of USWA Local 169 would have to accompany them on the inspection. AK Steel took the position that the union should not be granted the access since their members were not working in the plant at the time of the complaint and that the union does not represent the employees currently working in the plant.
    OSHA officials obtained a warrant later Tuesday and returned to the plant. AK Steel officials again agreed to allow OSHA to conduct an inspection, but reiterated its position that the union would not be allowed in the plant. OSHA declined AK Steel's offer to enter the plant without members of USWA Local 169. The USWA represents only the hourly employees of the plant who have been locked out of the plant since September 1, 1999.
    A salaried employee who had been terminated for poor performance January 21 filed the safety complaint with OSHA's Toledo office on or about January 30. The former employee also filed a complaint January 28 with OSHA alleging the company fired the employee for reporting safety hazards. That complaint was delivered in person by OSHA officials Tuesday afternoon.
    "Our position remains unchanged that OSHA is welcome to conduct their inspection at any reasonable time with our full support and cooperation," said Alan H. McCoy, vice president of public affairs for the company. "Our plants have the best safety records in our industry and we are committed to continual improvement. However, the issue at hand was granting access to members of a union who have for months threatened and intimidated the employees working inside the plant. Their interest was simply an opportunity to further harass those working in the plant."