Steel Mills
US Steel Workers Offer to Work Under Old Contract During Negotiations
Written by Sandy Williams
September 2, 2015
The United Steel Workers said it would prefer to continue contract negotiations rather than seek a strike authorization from the membership. On Monday, June 1, the day before contract expiration, the USW offered to continue working under the previous contract while continuing negotiations with US Steel.
US Steel responded that it remained committed to operating “without disruption” during the contract negotiations and appreciated the union’s “commitment to extend the contract negotiations.”
So for now, workers will continue to show up for regular work schedules at US Steel facilities. The USW says that both US Steel and ArcelorMittal continue to seek too many concessions.
Solidarity rallies were held at ArcelorMittal and US Steel headquarters today (Sept 1). A crowd of 3,000 marched to the headquarters of ATI and US Steel in Pittsburgh and a similar number gathered at ArcelorMittal offices in Chicago and Burns Harbor, Ind.
USW International vice president Tom Conway, who leads USW negotiations with US Steel and ATI, said that the current fight isn’t just about good jobs in the steel industry, but about good wages and benefits for all American workers.
“America is sick of watching bosses saying that they lost money and then paying themselves millions of dollars more,” said Conway. Conway said the lock out of workers at ATI “is one of the most shameful thigs we’ve seen in a long time.”
Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Steel Mills
BREAKING NEWS: Cliffs plans to idle three mills, cut 950 jobs on ‘insufficient demand and pricing’
Cleveland-Cliffs plans to indefinitely idle its steel mill in Riverdale, Ill., as well as mills in Conshohocken, Pa., and Steelton, Pa. The Cleveland-based steelmaker said all three facilities would be idled on or around June 30. Approximately 950 jobs will be impacted, the company said.
CRU: Usiminas may reduce capex unless government strengthens protection
“The lack of effective measures to create fair competition, amid a surge in subsidized imports, is the main threat to the sustainability of Brazil’s steel industry and its value chain,” CEO Marcelo Chara said.
USS swings to loss in first quarter on N. American flat-rolled segment woes
U.S. Steel CEO praised the company’s resilience, “despite the seasonally low results driven by annual mining logistics constraints in our North American Flat-Rolled segment and lagging spot prices.”
Nucor gives updates on new capacity coming online
Nucor said several of its capital projects will start operations within the next year and provided an update on them.
Algoma swings to loss on ‘market challenges’ and ‘tariff uncertainties’
Canada’s Algoma Steel swung to a loss in the first quarter amid "market challenges," and the company now expects first steel production from its first EAF in the second quarter.