United Steelworkers Local 5668 say they will vote on a contract - WOWK 13 Charleston, Huntington WV News, Weather, Sports

Members of United Steelworkers Local 5668 told 13NEWS they plan to vote on the latest contract offer from Constellium Rolled Products on Wednesday.

United Steelworkers Local 5668 members in Ravenswood said members must be present to vote between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday. A Constellium spokeswoman said last week that the latest offer would be the company's last.

Informational meetings will be held Tuesday at 7:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m., and 6 p.m.

Members will cast their vote on a secret, paper ballot.   

Several officials issued statements Saturday about the situation.

U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said in his statement that his priority throughout the negotiations has been to bring all the parties together to try to get people back to work.

"We've reached a point in these negotiations where the international leadership of the United Steelworkers union has reviewed this offer," Manchin said in a news release. "President Leo Gerard sees market conditions around the world, and his assessment is that it's time for workers to have a vote.

"I also urge all those involved to keep cool heads in the coming days, as these talks are proving to be a marathon, not a sprint."

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin said he encourages international and local union leaders to continue to educate their members about the offer on the table.

"At the end of the day, it is up to the members to determine whether to accept the current offer," Tomblin said in a news release. "I hope that everyone involved understands the hardships this has caused families in the Ravenswood community, and that jobs and economic security are first and foremost on everyone's minds over these next few days."

U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., said in a news release the Ravenswood negotiations are "deeply important to the workers, their families and the whole community."

"In the end, I think it is essential for all of the members to have an opportunity to vote up or down on the company's latest proposal," Rockefeller said in a news release. "I am hopeful that an agreement can be reached sooner rather than later and think that a vote on the contract – regardless of whether the members decide to ratify it – is necessary to move us towards a resolution."