FEDERAL COURT Jury favors AK Steel in dispute with union

The Steelworkers are considering an appeal.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- A U.S. District Court jury awarded AK Steel $4.3 million and ruled that a local steel workers union violated a contract with a Mansfield mill and interfered with its business.
The jury ruled Friday against the parent United Steelworkers of America International and its Local 169 in Mansfield. Union employees have been locked out since 1999 at the Mansfield plant.
The steelmaker, which had sought more than $7 million, believes the union and its members "got exactly what they deserved," said AK Steel spokesman Alan McCoy.
"We're gratified justice has finally been served," he said.
The parent union promised to challenge the ruling, said Bill Collins, a staff representative for the union in the Mansfield area.
Local 169 attorney Tim Gallagher said the union's response had not been decided, but one option was asking a judge to overturn the jury's verdict.
Here's what happened
Armco was the owner of the specialty steel mill four years ago amid negotiations for a new contract. AK Steel later purchased Armco Inc.
The company had alleged that union employees and union officials acted together to slow production through plant sabotage and refusing overtime and thereby hurt the company's business.
At midnight on Aug. 31, 1999, Armco locked out approximately 500 members of Local 169 when their contract expired. AK Steel has operated the plant with about 250 replacement workers.
The lockout has been was marred by violence, including a fight between pickets and security guards.