Birmingham, Ala., Jan. 5, 2004 -- American Cast Iron Pipe Company (ACIPCO) has been named to Fortune magazine's list of "The 100 Best Companies to Work For."
ACIPCO, ranked as number forty-five on the list, is the only pipe manufacturing company to ever receive the honor.
This is the eighth time ACIPCO has been named as one of "The 100 Best Companies to Work For." It's the seventh time Fortune has sponsored the national survey.
Fortune's scoring is based on answers provided by randomly selected employees and the magazine's evaluation of materials companies provide concerning pay and benefits, life-balance programs, opportunities, job security and pride in the company.
Best selling authors Robert Levering and Milton Moscowitz, who wrote the book The 100 Best Companies to Work for in America, compiled the list for Fortune. ACIPCO was named in the 1993 edition of their book.
"We are honored to once again be named to this list. Our success at ACIPCO goes back to the vision of our founder, John J. Eagan, and to the dedication of our employees." states Van Richey, President and CEO.
Fortune cited a low turnover rate, employee longevity and the on-site healthcare facility as some of the outstanding attributes of the company.
Other examples of ACIPCO's commitment to employees include the following:
* A profit-sharing plan.
* The Golden Rule philosophy of treating people the way you want to be treated.
* Employees are represented on committees to ensure fair and uniform administration of work rules, rates, apprentice training, seniority determination, medical and dental services, and Charity Fund participation.
* An outstanding pension plan.
* A wellness program that provides a wellness center, classes and activities for employees and their families.
* One of the oldest employee suggestion systems in the United States that provides a cash reimbursement for increased efficiency of operations.
* An apprentice program to train employees in the crafts and trades utilized at ACIPCO.
* Courses in supervisory development, apprentice development, skill development and personal development are offered in Eagan College, the company's on-site training program.
* Tuition reimbursement for college study.
* Employee counseling available through a confidential counseling group.
* Twelve wage-employee representatives elected to a Board of Operatives; one employee is elected as clerical director; one employee is elected at large and all of them serve as advisors to management on matters affecting employee relations. Four elected employees serve as voting members on the ACIPCO Board of Directors.
Founded in 1905, ACIPCO is one of Birmingham's oldest companies and is the largest manufacturing employer in the city. It employs over 3,000 workers in 16 facilities in the United States. ACIPCO manufactures a diversified product line for the waterworks, capital goods, and energy industries.
Products manufactured in the company include ductile iron pipe and fittings, fire hydrants, valves, fire truck pumps, centrifugally cast steel tubes, static castings and fabricated assemblies, ERW steel pipe, and spiral-welded steel pipe.
