AK Steel workers voting on new contract

AK Steel presented union workers with their final offer for a new contract Friday, which will be voted on between 10am and 7pm Monday. The union, International Association of Machinists Local 1943, has until midnight Monday to vote on AK Steel's final offer. If the union votes in favor of the contract, it will take effect October 1, 2006 and end September 30, 2011. The proposal will have the company bring back workers in stages over several weeks with some workers not working 40 hours per week and with the company using non union workers if necessary. If accepted, the agreement will also restructure the workforce into fewer job classes, meaning workers would have a wider range of responsibilities than before.