Vallourec workers overwhelmingly reject union representation
More than 500 Vallourec workers were eligible to cast ballots in the union election and after three days of voting the result was a big win for the company.

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The vote by workers at Vallourec Star wasn't even close.
More than 500 Vallourec workers were eligible to cast ballots in the union election and after three days of voting the result was a big win for the company.
148 votes for the union and 367 against.
"Shock and surprise, we did not figure that we would lose by such a majority that we did" reacted Bill Allen a UE union supporter.
The lopsided result was a surprise to UE organizers because of the response they had from workers during the campaign.
"You know when we went out and got the support from the members that signed cards it was significantly more we thought that we would run a very close campaign" said organizer Chuck Lepowsky.
The campaign included support from union leaders from Vallourec operations in France. Organizers think that a contributing factor may be that as an organization the UE is new to this area.
"We tried to get out there and present the UE as a strong union that it is, and I think that being not really familiar and having that particular union in this area may have been a cause" Allen said.
Following the election results Vallourec issued a statement saying:
"We will continue to operate a safe and respectful workplace where pay and benefits remain some of the best in the valley".
The Vallourec campaign was one of the largest union organizing efforts in Ohio in several years and Allen says it could happen again.
"We're still going to move forward and hopefully maybe sometime in the future we may go again" Allen said.
Vallourec is currently considering another 80-million dollar expansion project in Youngstown.
An announcement is expected within three months.