It is reported that Gerdau MacSteel is set to reopen its Napoleon Township plant this fall after union members approved a proposal by the company on August 15th 2009. The move could put as many as 300 employees back to work.
Gerdau MacSteel presented the union with the proposal Mr Crowley and his committee helped negotiate. Both sides agreed on a moratorium premium pay and no overtime for employees until after they work 40 hours during the week.
Mr Charles Crowley president of United Steel Workers of America Local 8339 declined to say what the vote was, but said that it was approved by an extraordinarily overwhelming margin.
Mr Crowley said that the union and the company worked cooperatively to make this happen. He added that "We're going to help them, they're going to help us, and we going to put this plant back on the map."
In June 2009, Mr Crowley met with company officials who said they were winterizing the plant, and he didn't expect operations to begin until 2010.
