BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C.–With a potential closing date drawing near, Century Aluminum employees gathered outside of Santee Cooper in Moncks Corner in protest Thursday, urging reps with the power plant to work on a feasible agreement that would allow them to stay open for business.
Folks held signs that read, “Please save our jobs,” “Do the right thing” and “Is this the way you promote the common welfare of people? Shame on you,” and “Greed is a deadly sin.” Others held game boards, accusing Santee Cooper of being a monopoly.
Recently, Santee Cooper’s board of directors voted 10-0 to reject the Century Aluminum’s contract proposal that would allow them to buy cheaper power from out of state and in return pay Santee Cooper about $60 million over five years to transmit the electricity.
According to Santee Cooper reps, rejecting the proposal was necessary, otherwise, it would force its other industrial customers to pay higher rates in order to subsidize Mount Holly.
“We’re offering the best deal we can without increasing the costs to other customers,” Lonnie Carter, Santee Cooper’s president and CEO, told about 30 Mount Holly employees who attended Monday’s board meeting. “I hope your management team will accept this offer. … It’s a doggone good offer.”
Michael Bless, Century’s president and CEO, if a deal can’t be reached by December 31st, 600 people will be out of a job.
A Santee Cooper spokesperson reportedly told Live 5 News’ Harve Jacobs that reps with the power plant will meet with employees closed door most likely on Friday.
“I assure you, Santee Cooper’s door remains open to Century to discuss extending our current terms or anything new that they think may help the local plant stay in business and protect our other customers,” Carter wrote in a letter to employees. “Mt. Holly is an important corporate citizen, and the employees are hard workers and enthusiastic community volunteers. Nobody wants this plant to close.”
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