U.S. Steel Hamilton Union Workers Still Support Negotiating Committee

Sophia Fain 10:57AM, August 4, 2011

After members of U.S. Steel’s Local 1005 called for a special meeting last night concerning support for the union negotiating committee, the results were overwhelming. The Spec reports that 510 workers voted to back the union leadership with less than 30 members voting ‘no’ to supporting the negotiating team. While a ‘no’ vote could have led to opening back up negotiations with U.S. Steel, the actual vote reinforces the decision that it is up to U.S. Steel to settle the lockout. In SMU’s blog yesterday, Union President Rolf Gerstenberger relays how USS is losing a money-making opportunity by keeping the mill shutdown.

“Everyone knows that what U.S. Steel wants is for us to shaft the pensioners and give up indexing,” he said. “They also want to shaft the new hires.”

The union members are still holding out as the pension plans remain top priority on their agenda. While USS wants to change the current defined benefit pension plan to a defined contribution scheme for new employees while ending pension indexing for current retirees. The union has rejected these demands, leaving little room for negotiation. The lockout is now entering its ninth month, which is the longest in Hamilton steel history. For more information on the lockout, CLICK HERE.

(Source: The Spec)

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Comments

Since there were mainly "pensioners" at this meeting it was not a legal vote. Active union members have consistently requested an active members only "ballot" vote and been disregarded. It is disheartening that the bargaining committee who are mainly close to retirement themselves are not thinking what is in the best interest of the current and future union members. To think that when all is said and done they are fighting for "ONLY" the pensioners and not the members on a whole who as they know would have accepted the contract if they were offered a vote. Current pensioners are not doing without by any means and our currently receiving their monthly pensions as well as medical benefits and only a very very few are participating on the picket lines as some shifts NEVER see any pensioners. This can not be said for the active members who participate on the picket lines, and many have run out of U.I. benefits and do not have any medical benefits for their family members. Some are losing their homes and families and all for approx. $10-$20 for pensioners that only show up for meetings. If only the bargaining committee would think long term and clearly and realize that what they are being offered is sure better than what they are currently experiencing. Local 1005 committee needs to realize that this is now the norm and to accept it and understand that not all companies have even 20% of what they are being offered. Shame on them!!

m August 4, 2011 at 12:05PM

pensioners, as far as i know, did not get a vote at this meeting. the active members voted. and why in god's name would you put quotation marks around the noun pensioners? one thing is clear, m was not at last nights meeting, nor did m take part in the vote, one way or the other.