Steel Mills
USW Waiting With Trepidation for US Steel Formal Contract Proposal
Written by Sandy Williams
July 26, 2015
US Steel wants “to turn back the clock” in contract demands said the United Steelworkers in a statement on the ongoing contract negotiations.
“While we have yet to receive a formal, detailed proposal from the company, it’s clear from this initial outline that U.S. Steel is attempting to use the current industry downturn to gut our contract and weaken our union,” said the USW update.
Contract demands from US Steel include changes to health care that would raise annual deductibles and charge a monthly premium, said the USW in a summary of what is known so far by the negotiating committee. Medical plans would be eliminated for retirees.
New language in the contract would reduce vacation pay and bonuses and increase eligibility requirements. Scheduling and overtime pay would be adjusted as well as modifying hours-worked guarantees to four hours per day and 32 hours per week.
The USW is also concerned about potential changes in the union’s role in health and safety at US Steel facilities.
“These proposals do nothing to address the current climate in the steel industry – they are designed instead to take advantage of that climate to weaken our contract,” said the USW in its statement.
The US Steel labor contract is set to expire September 1, 2015.
Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Steel Mills
White House may delay decision on USS-Nippon deal until after election: report
The White House decision on blocking Nippon Steel’s play for Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel might be pushed back until after the upcoming presidential election, according to a report in the Washington Post.
Hybar lands ‘strategic’ investment from Quanta Services
Hybar said that contracting services firm Quanta Services has made a “strategic” investment in the company as it build its sustainable rebar mill in northeast Arkansas.
Cliffs to place C-6 furnace at Cleveland Works on hot idle: sources
Cleveland-Cliffs plans to place the C-6 blast furnace at its Cleveland Works in Ohio on hot idle in October, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Domestic steelmakers push back on Ternium’s 232 exclusion requests
Ternium USA Inc. has requested a host of Section 232 tariff exclusions since the US reimposed the duties on Mexican steel earlier this summer. Domestic steelmakers, however, are pushing back.
USS introduces ‘ZMAG’ coated steel to withstand tough weather
U.S. Steel has rolled out “ZMAG,” a flat-rolled coated steel product intended to endure harsh weather conditions.