Press Releases

Today, Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Rick Larsen (WA-02), and Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, sent a letter to Alcoa President and CEO Roy Harvey urging the company work with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers to find a solution to the forthcoming layoffs at Alcoa’s Intalco facility in Ferndale, WA.

Earlier this month, Alcoa announced it would be curtailing operations at its Intalco facility and shedding 700 good-paying jobs.

“This is the second time in 5 years that Alcoa has announced that it would curtail operations at Intalco, and it is deeply distressing that the company chose to make this announcement in the middle of a pandemic,” the lawmakers write in the letter. “The Intalco plant is one of the largest employers in Whatcom County and supports many indirect jobs in addition to the 700 workers at the facility itself.”

In 2016, Reps. DelBene and Larsen, Sens. Murray and Cantwell, and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee worked with Alcoa on an agreement to improve the competitiveness of the Intalco facility.

“While we recognize that companies like Alcoa have certain corporate responsibilities, they also have a responsibility to their workers and communities,” the letter continues.

On May 1, these lawmakers also sent a letter to President Trump, highlighting how the administration’s trade policies have negatively impacted U.S. companies and contributed to domestic manufacturing facility shutdowns, including Intalco.

Read the full letter to Alcoa here.