Alcoa workers vote on contract

Alcoa workers could soon face another possible strike, if a contract being voted on throughout the day Thursday is not ratified.

Alcoa executives and leaders in the United Steelworkers Union tentatively approved a contract offer last month, narrowly avoiding a strike then.

Thursday, the rank and file had their say.

The day was a mixed bag with some union workers dead set against the the new contract, and local businesses hoping the contract is approved so everyone keeps the money circulating.

"I voted against it," said USW worker Jim Carver.

Carver said he voted no because of one specific part of the new contract.

"I mean, they're really hitting us hard on insurance, I mean that's really the big deal this time," he says.

The Alcoa plant was once a mighty lion in Blount County, with 7,000 employees. But a recession-induced money diet forced Alcoa to shed pounds, dropping to just 700 workers.

"If they go on strike you are going to see a dramatic decline in people spending money then," said Blount County resident Carrey Gregory.

Which could roll down hill to the muffler shop where Gregory provides service to many Alcoa employees, he says.

"just like when they shut the south plant down, really affected everything here."

But Gregory and Justin Whitehead, a local car salesman, hope rank and file don't reject the new contract.

"I don't think that that's actually going to happen," Whitehead said. "I think its going to go through as normal."

They expect to tally up the votes Thursday night, and conduct a conference call with other Alcoa plants nationwide.

A decision will hopefully be announced sometime late Thursday night or early Friday.