Alcan and United Steelworkers move forward

850 unionized employees represented by United Steelworkers (USW) Local 5668 at the Ravenswood, West Virginia, aluminum rolling mill, have ratified a new five-year agreement effective as of June 1, 2005 with Pechiney Rolled Products, LLC., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alcan Inc.

"I am very pleased with the outcome of the ratification vote. It is a
clear demonstration that all parties concerned are determined to work together to build a bright future for Ravenswood," Michel Jacques, President and Chief Executive Officer, Alcan Engineered Products. "Building on the progress achieved in the last two years, we are now in a position to undertake new initiatives to improve the long-term viability of the plant. Soon to be re-named Alcan Rolled Products-Ravenswood, the facility is a key asset of the Engineered Products Business Group, helping to serve better a wide range of customers especially in aerospace," he added.

The Ravenswood plant is one of the largest aluminum rolling mills in the world and produces high quality aluminum plate, coil and sheet products for the packaging, aerospace, aeronautical and transportation industries.

Alcan is a multinational, market-driven company and a global leader in aluminum and packaging which employs almost 70,000 people and has operating facilities in 55 countries and regions. With operations in primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum as well as flexible and specialty packaging, aerospace applications, bauxite mining and alumina processing.