Kaiser Faces Ecology Fines, Labor Violations

Kaiser Aluminum settled a two-year labor dispute with workers Monday but now faces new problems with air pollution and labor violations.

The State Department of Ecology recently fined the Kaiser Mead Plant $388,000 for air pollution violations between August 1995 and October 1999. The fine is the largest penalty ever issued in Eastern Washington.

The Department of Ecology Inspectors said that Kaiser released 800 pounds of pollutants unnecessarily into the air every day for almost four years.

“The ecology fine is simply outrageous,” Susan Ashe, a Kaiser Spokeswoman said. “The department is misleading the public about the company’s performance. I’m confident if it goes to trial, we will prevail.”

Kaiser plans to contest the ecology fines.

The Federal Government is also targeting the company. In June the National Labor Relations Board charged that Kaiser unlawfully locked out union members to pressure them into accepting the company’s allegedly illegal bargaining proposal.

The Labor Board is seeking $337 million in back pay for employees for the entire period of the lockout. It is the largest back pay award ever sought in the 65-year history of the National Labor Relations Board.

“This has been an epic struggle for our union,” David Foster, Director of USWA District #11 said. “We hope that discussions with Kaiser will lead to an out-of-court settlement of the back pay claim and we are preparing to pursue those discussions shortly.”

Kaiser is scheduled to answer to the federal charges in November.

Dawn Picken/KREM 2 News