RAVENSWOOD, W.Va. — A spokesperson for Century Aluminum employees said retirees should be first in line to collect if and when assets of the Ravenswood plant are sold.
“I think that our state leadership needs to find a way to protect the retirees interests,” Karen Gorrell told MetroNews “Talkline” on Tuesday. “If there’s any sale of assets there in any way, retirees ought to be first in line because we built that plant.”
The 752 retirees have been without benefits since before Century idled the plant in 2009. The company announced Monday night it was closing the facility for good. Gorrell heard the news from Century’s CEO hours earlier.
“It was kind of heart-stopping, a very sad day,” she said. “But retirees haven’t given up their fight.”
Gorrell remained hopeful the plant could one day re-open, but Ravenswood Mayor Mike Ihle, who is also a member of the House of Delegates, was ready to move on.
“Those jobs (more than 600), we lost them in 2009. We are trying to move our community forward. We are the second-safest city in the state. We have a top-10 high school. It’s still a great place to live. I wish we had Century but we don’t,” Ihle said.
U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito called the closing of the plant a “deep disappointment” and urged Century to fulfill its commitments to the retirees. U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin also issued a statement.
“Although I am saddened to hear of the permanent closure, I will not stop fighting to bring these jobs back to West Virginia, while also ensuring Century keeps its promise to retirees,” Manchin said.
Century is obligated to its retirees, Gorrell said.
“I will not give up until I draw my last breath. I will not give up until we are taken care of,” she said. “These people (retirees) are running out of time and something needs to be done and it doesn’t need to be done six months from now or a year from now. It needs to be taken care of now.”