Aluminum Co. of America, the nation’s largest...

Aluminum Co. of America, the nation’s largest aluminum producer, said third-quarter earnings plunged 40%, largely because of a five-week strike. United Steelworkers members were off the job in a contract dispute for five weeks beginning June 1. Consequently, aluminum shipments declined by about 20% from 432,000 metric tons to 341,000 metric tons, and primarily aluminum products represented only 12% of total shipments, down from 20% in the 1985 third quarter.