Picketing Continues In Front Of ATI Plant

Members of United Steel Workers Local 1357 have been picketing around the clock in front of the Allegheny Technologies Incorporated plant on East Rodney French Blvd since the company begin a lockout of the facility on Saturday.

The lockout was ordered after contract negotiations between the United Steelworkers and the company.

The previous contract expired June 30.

Donald Rei, the Vice-President of United Steel Workers Local 1357 in New Bedford, says they have received a great deal of support from the community and he's asking that those supporters continue to support them refrain from engaging in disruptive behavior.

"I can't emphasize that enough, we'd like to make sure everything stays peaceful down there, that we don't have any trouble," said Rei "our guys will not cause any trouble and i want to make sure that's the same from everyone who supports us, that's not how we're going to win this fight."

Rei says the union wants to return to the negotiating table to reach a deal that will allow them to go back to to work making money for themselves and the company.