Alcoa cutting output of Quebec smelter amid continuing contract impasse with union

PITTSBURGH – Alcoa Corp. says it’s further reducing output from its aluminum smelter in Becancour, Que., by Friday due to the impact of an ongoing lockout of its unionized workers.

The Pittsburgh-based company had previously curtailed two of the facility’s three pot lines in January after unionized workers rejected a company contract proposal.

Alcoa says it will now cut output from the remaining pot line by half due to recent retirements and departures of salaried employees who had been keeping the Becancour smelter operational.

The company says the remaining salaried staff will ensure the smelter can be ready for a potential restart.

Alcoa is the smelter’s operator and its majority owner, with minority partner Rio Tinto owning 25 per cent.