'Wright is Still Wrong' is the message hundreds of Machinists Union members employed at Alcoa aluminum plants in Wenatchee and Ferndale delivered to the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). These determined workers embarked on a cross-state trek aimed at preserving these family-wage jobs. Their target was Bonneville Power Administration Director Steven Wright, who has proposed a 15 percent rate increase that would ensure the demise of aluminum manufacturing in the Northwest. This increase is on top of the 45 percent increase imposed at the height of the energy crisis in 2001.

Members first stopped at the State Capitol to hear from Washington State legislators, who also opposed the rate increase. Just minutes before the aluminum workers arrived, state lawmakers passed House Joint Memorial 4021, which petitioned President Bush, the U. S. House and Senate, and BPA to abandon the rate increase and use other tools to manage costs. State leaders again came together across party lines to oppose the rate increase and demonstrate they understand the importance of preserving every job in this tough economy.

From Olympia, the Union members traveled to Portland to attend BPA's public hearing on the issue. Members lined up to testify in opposition of BPA's proposed 15 percent rate increase, which would make power too expensive for Alcoa to produce aluminum in this state. Heart-wrenching stories told of life-long careers that would be lost, families that would have to move from the region, and the devastating effect on the communities left behind.

The BPA proposal is especially frustrating since the Wenatchee plant has been idle since the energy crisis in 2001. The Ferndale plant also was idle for a year during the 2001 energy crisis and only recently resumed production. The idle time in the plants has left workers eager to get back to their trade - producing aluminum.

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