STEELWORKERS SAY BAD TRADE POLICY HAS ALLOWED BALL CORPORATION'S DECISION TO
CLOSE RICHMOND PLANT

BURNABY, BC, Sept. 10 /CNW/ - Last week's announcement by the Denver-based Ball Corporation that its Richmond, BC fish can plant will be permanently closed in the first quarter of next year is a prime example of a trade policy that does not benefit BC workers, say the United Steelworkers (USW). Ball has informed the union, which represents trades and production workers at the No. 6 and River Road plant, that their final day will be on March 31, 2011.

"As this announcement was made, BC fishermen had witnessed the largest sockeye salmon run that has been recorded since the early 1900s," says USW Western Canada Director Stephen Hunt. "Why the company would choose to shut the plant down is a mystery for workers and should raise a red flag for Ball Corporation investors as well."

"The closure marks the final nail in the coffin of a packaging industry that has over 100 years of rich history on the BC Coast," adds Hunt. "And it is bad trade policy, under the North American Free Trade Agreement, that allows Ball to unbuckle the production equipment in Richmond and move it to other corporate operations."

The company says it expects to be cash positive by about $8-million after the closure and final disposition of the land and building.

Ball announced that it is offering workers "outplacement" or severance under the collective agreement with USW Local 2009.

"We don't know what 'outplacement' actually means for our members - none have been offered jobs or moving allowances," says USW staff representative Steve Dewell, who meets with the company on September 16, 2010 to discuss issues related to the closure.

For further information:

Stephen Hunt, 604.683.1117

Steve Dewell, 604.513.1850