With workers at AK Steel Middleton Works in Ohio being locked out for nearly a year, union leaders are close to accepting terms previously rejected by members. Jesse Russell has more.

On February 28, 2006 AK Steel locked out its 1800 workers represented by the International Association of Machinists Lodge 1943. Contract negotiations had broken down over union opposition concerning plans to outsource work at the plant and exhaustive back-to-work physicals that could prove to be too challenging for older employees. The company has not said what would happen to workers unable to pass the physical, but the concern is the workers could lose health and pension benefits. Union leadership has changed its position and will now support the new contract even if it includes the outsourcing of work, but is still concerned about the back-to-work physicals. AK Steel has not said if they will accept the union’s new position, stating that the contract they now endorse was taken off the table after workers voted it down in October. The plant has been running with salaried and replacement workers.