"These fines were justified," declared Whitney Jasmin in a telephone interview. Jasmin is a member of the United Steelworkers of America (USWA) and has been locked out by Kaiser since January 1999. "The explosion would never have happened if they had done the right thing to begin with and kept qualified people in the plant."

The plant has been closed since the explosion. MSHA charged the company with serious violations of mandatory safety standards and other regulations, 13 of the 21 being the most severe kind of citation the agency can issue. Some of the cited violations include inoperative pressure valve systems, blocked pressure relief piping, routine operation of pressure vessels beyond their design capacity, inadequate safety training, and lack of proper protective equipment. In addition, Kaiser was charged with seven counts of impeding or interfering with MSHA's investigation.

Hamilton Steib, another locked-out worker, agreed on the telephone with Jasmin, saying, "The fines just weren't sufficient for that type of violation. They should have been fined millions for endangering people's lives and health."

USWA members at Kaiser struck on September 30, 1998, over cuts in retiree health insurance benefits, seniority, job security, pensions, and wages.

On January 13, 1999, they offered to return to work while continuing to negotiate, but the next day, the company locked out more than 2,900 USWA members at five plants in Gramercy, Louisiana; Newark, Ohio; and Spokane and Tacoma, Washington. The plants have been operating with management and replacement workers.

Jasmin also reported that 50 to 60 locked-out workers and their supporters went to court in Gramercy on April 10. Six workers were on trial for offenses on the picket line. The judge found two of them guilty and suspended them from the picket line for the next six months. He threatened to put them in jail if they came back to court again. "So now we can't yell at the scabs when they cross our line," Jasmin commented.

The USWA is planning to bring locked-out members from around the country to converge at the Kaiser Aluminum annual stockholders' meeting in Houston on May 24. Last year's demonstrations attracted unionists and youth from Houston, and were marked by their enthusiasm and energy.  
 
 
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