AK Steel announces zinc extras, union meeting

AK Steel announced Tuesday it will increase prices for zinc coatings by 15 percent, effective with shipments starting July 1, 2006. The premium will be added to orders of galvannealed and electrogalvanized products. AK attributes the price increase to the rising cost of zinc, which has nearly tripled in the past year. In other company news, the union that represents the locked out workers at AK's Middletown plant, AEIF, will meet with AK Steel Wednesday to discuss healthcare benefits. This meeting comes days after AK's announcement that it will start making retirees pay for their own healthcare.