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Last updated on Thursday, September 22, 2011
(SHOALS) - The lockout at the National Gypsum Company plant and mine in Shoals enters its third week.
The company shut down the Shoals facility because of an impasse in new contract talks.
Local steelworker's Union Representative Chris Bolte says workers are still holding their ground.
Union workers at Shoals have been working without a contract since February 1st.
The sticking point in the talks is a change in retirement benefits for younger workers. The company wants employees younger than 40 to change their retirement pension to a 401k-type retirement plan.
The union is against this saying the company can opt out of an employer contribution to the 401k plan after its in place.
National Gypsum is one of the largest gypsum wallboard producers in the United States. It operates 17 wallboard production plants and eight gypsum mines and quarries. The Shoals plant and mine have been in production since 1956. It employs about 100 workers.
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