Century Aluminum Retirees to protest against purchase of facility

The Century Aluminum Retirees will be holding a picket/gate collection at the north entrance of the Century Aluminum plant today and Friday to protest the company's purchase of a facility in Kentucky while efforts to restart the Ravenswood plant have stalled.

The picketers will be at the entrance to the plant from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days, said Karen Gorrell, spokesman for the Century Aluminum Retirees.

''Most of you know that Century purchased a facility in Sebree, Kentucky, and paid $60 million plus in cash for the plant,'' Gorrell said.

''To add insult to injury, during the recent Century Aluminum conference call, the Ravenswood facility was not mentioned until after the presentation and an investor called in to ask (Century President and CEO) Mike Bless for an update on Ravenswood. Mike Bless indicated they were still working with APCO, state officials and the retirees," Gorrell said.

"Our settlement agreement expired on July 1, 2013, and we have had no communication from anyone at Century since February 17. It is my understanding that there have also been no recent communications with APCO or the state in regard to restarting this plant. I always thought these conference calls were supposed to reflect accurate information to the investors,'' she said.

Century retirees have been upset with the company since negotiations to bring back some of their lost health care benefits fell through after the company decided not to restart operations at the Jackson County plant after failing to reach an agreement on electricity costs. The reinstatement of the benefits hinged on the plant being reopened, officials said.

Officials with Century have said that getting the Ravenswood plant back in operation remains a priority.