Union hopes retirement offers cut Alcoa plant layoffs

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 A union official says retirement offers could reduce the number of layoffs at an Alcoa plant in southern Indiana where the company is shutting down an aluminum smelter that has more than 500 workers.

United Steelworkers officials have been negotiating with Alcoa over details of the smelter closure at the company’s Warrick Operations near Evansville. Alcoa has said about 1,200 workers will remain at the facility after the smelter closes in late March.

Steelworkers local President David Willett tells the Evansville Courier and Press that smelter workers with more seniority will have the chance to transfer to other jobs at the plant.

Willett says the number of layoffs won’t be known until next month.

Alcoa has notified the state that up to 600 workers will be laid off.