Will plant's striking colors lead to clashing symbols?

• Position: Brief Article

If there's a place an emblem of the Confederate battle flag seems proper, it's on a pickup truck. It's as natural there as hip-hop in the 'hood. But in the wake of the South Carolina controversy, displaying the rebel flag -- or any other heat-seeking symbol -- on your vehicle could soon be a big no-no in company parking lots.

It already is at Pittsburgh-based Alcoa Inc.'s Badin aluminum-smelting plant, where Confederate flag symbols -- except on state-issued license plates -- have been banned. Employees, including union leaders and salaried employees, started complaining about the emblems on two cars late last year.

Rob Persons, the plant's human-resources manager, says he tried having a heart-to-heart with the flag flaunters, explaining why their cherished symbol was hacking off blacks and others who see the flag as more about oppression than secession. Of the plant's 326 employees, 34% are minorities. Most of those are black.

Flag backers stood their ground. Months passed. Finally, in April, a newly elected leader of the union local put Persons' feet to the fire. When was he going to do something? Alcoa had already banned the flag inside the plant, as part of its long-standing good-behavior policy. It even made contractors cover up the emblem on their trucks.

Alcoa also regulates employee behavior in its parking lots. Drinking alcohol, for...