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RAVENSWOOD -Employees laid off from a Jackson County aluminum plant are frustrated with the company and a lack of answers.

Century Aluminum officials say they remain committed to keeping an option to restart its Ravenswood operation, but that is little consolation to members of the local union who are frustrated with a lack of specific answers.

Jason Miller, president of Local 5668 of United Steelworkers union, said hope the plant will be restarted is always there, but union officials are disappointed in the lack of answers from Century.

"They have given no notification of a start-up date or anything," Miller said. "We have asked them for specifics and they haven't shed any kind of light at all."

Mike Dildine, spokesman for Century Aluminum, reiterated the company's stance.

"We are doing everything we can to retain the option to restart the plant," he said. "There is no timeline.

"We are trying to do everything we can to restart the facility."

In February, Century announced it was shutting down the Ravenswood operations and would lay off most of the plant's 651 workers. The company reported a net loss of $33.9 million in the second quarter of 2009.

In its third quarter report, Century Aluminum reported a net income of $40.1 million. The report stated the results were positively impacted by the termination of an existing power contract and its replacement with a new power contract at the Hawesville, Ky., smelter as well as a $7.5 million tax benefit.

Dildine said the company's improvement was the result of a stronger aluminum market.

"Our earnings are tied closely to aluminum markets, which were stronger in the third quarter."

Dildine said Century needs three things to restart the plant: Affordable, long-term energy; higher aluminum prices; and competitive labor costs.

Company officials have been in talks with Appalachian Power to obtain cheaper electricity. The price of aluminum has risen in the last 11 months, climbing from about $1,400 a ton in December 2008 to almost $1,900 a ton. Dildine said there is no target aluminum price to signal the restart of the Ravenswood plant.

He said reopening the plant would require a major "capital commitment."

The plant, built in 1957, is the oldest and smallest smelter in the company. The plant was also the third largest employer in Jackson County, with an annual payroll of $34 million and an average annual salary of nearly $51,000.

Union officials balk at talk of competitive labor costs.

Miller said Century has employees to take concessions, including a pay cut and reduction of insurance benefits.

Last week, the company notified those who retired prior to June 1, 2006, of its intent to cut the medical retiree program, effective Dec. 31.

"They want us to open up the contract, to allow negotiations, which I don't see happening," Miller said.

"It is pretty much a waiting game."