Economy

Health Care Benefits Major Issue for Contract Negotiations
Written by Sandy Williams
July 28, 2015
The United Steel Workers received an outline of a contract proposal from US Steel Corp. and found it riddled with concessions that the USW says would “erode decades of contractural improvements and benefits.”
Health benefits seem to be a consistent theme in labor negotiations this year. US Steel is seeking to increase the minimum annual deductible to $2600 with out of out-of-pocket maximums up to $13,100 per year for families.
The USW negotiating committee at Allegheny Technologies Inc. just said no to a vote on a company proposal that included health care premiums of $215/month with a $1000/year deductible and $6000/per year out of pocket maximum.
ArcelorMIttal wants to initiate monthly premium contributions for active employees of $150 for single coverage and $250 for families. Under the previous contract, union employees paid no premiums at all.
In a recent blog, ArcelorMittal USA CEO Andrew Harshaw noted that most employees in comparable sized companies pay a premium equal to 22 percent of cost of medical coverage.

Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Economy

CRU: China hits back with retaliatory tariffs on US
Targets include coal, liquified natural gas, crude oil, and other commodities

ISM: Manufacturing expands in January for first time in years
Following more than two years of contraction, US manufacturing activity rebounded in January according to the Institute for Supply Management.

Tampa Steel Conference: Trade attorney says brace for turbulence
Steel and aluminum have been identified as high priorities for trade

Chicago Business Barometer rises in January
Despite the gain, the index remains below both the levels of November 2024 and the 2024 average.

CSPA asks Canadian government to work against potential tariffs
The Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA) has urged Canada to engage with the US administration to avoid the tariffs threatened by the Trump administration by Feb. 1. “The imposition of tariffs on Canadian goods will have an incredibly disruptive impact on our integrated North American supply chains and on our workers and their families,” François […]