AK Steel Locks Out Workers

Salaried employees and replacement workers ran AK Steel's Middletown Ohio Works plant on Wednesday, hours after the steelmaker locked out 2,700 union workers when their contract expired.

"We are operating in a manner that we unfortunately must do, under the circumstances," AK Steel spokesman Alan McCoy said.

At the plant's gates, locked-out employees chanted "United we stand!" and held signs. Police reported no problems after the lockout was announced.

Union members recently voted overwhelmingly to authorize leadership to call a strike if negotiations on a new contract failed. The lockout began shortly after the contract expired at midnight Tuesday. Many of those gathered said they weren't surprised by the lockout because the company had been making preparations, such as training replacement workers.

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