Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 30, 2004
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gary Locke Meets with Both Sides in Alcoa Aluminum Smelter Dispute

Gov. Gary Locke today met with both sides in the Alcoa aluminum smelter dispute, urging them to continue talks in an effort to reach a solution that would reopen the idle plant in Wenatchee.

The governor requested the separate, one-hour meetings in his Olympia office with leaders of the Aluminum Trade Council of Wenatchee and Alcoa officials.

“I urged both sides to keep the lines of communications open, and to be flexible,” Locke said after the meetings. “We want the employees back at the plant making aluminum. These are good-paying jobs that are critical to the economic vitality of the Wenatchee Valley.”

Locke said he was encouraged by the tone of both meetings and hoped both sides would continue talking.

» Return to this month's News Releases

» View News Release Archive