Pubdate: Thu, 21 Mar 2002
Source: Middletown Press (CT)
Copyright: 2002 Middletown Press
Contact:  http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=1645
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/586
Author: Alan Mccoy

'ANY NUMBER IS UNACCEPTABLE'

Dear Editor:

AK Steel never claimed that the 1992 drug search resulted in 39 criminal 
indictments against AEIF members. But since Mr. Shelley raised the issue, 
news and police reports from the incident indicate that five hourly 
employees, all AEIF members, were arrested during the 1992 drug raid, 
mostly for trafficking in marijuana. The 1992 drug sweep was, in fact, 
initiated after numerous employees sounded their concerns to management 
about drug use at Middletown Works. In addition, during the 1992 search we 
uncovered a .357 caliber handgun in a locked, unassigned locker as well as 
a handgun kit being assembled in another locker.

Further, Mr. Shelley misstates the facts in claiming he witnessed an AK 
Steel manager rummaging through an employee's wallet in the most recent 
search. The fact is, two drug dogs independently alerted at the locker in 
question, one of only seven opened.

During an inspection of the contents of the locker, an object in the pocket 
of a pair of pants was noticed. It was removed carefully, observed to have 
an identification card clearly visible through a plastic sleeve and then 
returned carefully to the pants. It was not even opened and certainly no 
one "rummaged" through it. Mr. Shelley was invited to witness the search 
for the very reason that he states himself, that he represents his members.

Mr. Shelley's version of the inspection simply does not square with the 
other eyewitness accounts. His protestations about Constitutional rights 
are likewise off the mark, since I presume Mr. Shelley knows that the 
Fourth Amendment refers to government action, not a private employer who 
has every right to inspect his own property.

Finally, we would agree that the available evidence suggests there are a 
small number of employees involved in drug and alcohol use at Middletown 
Works. However, any number other than zero is unacceptable to AK Steel, and 
we believe unacceptable to the vast majority of Middletown Works employees, 
contractors, their families and friends.

ALAN McCOY, Vice President, Public Affairs, AK Steel
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager