Steel Mills
USW Labor Negotiations Continue at Slow Pace
Written by Sandy Williams
October 18, 2015
USW negotiations with ArcelorMittal and US Steel continue to be bogged down. The USW bargaining committee with ArcelorMittal will take a brief break this coming week to conduct discussions with local membership.
“We urge ArcelorMittal management to use this time away from the table to consider the uncertainty and strain this unnecessarily long, drawn-out process has already caused – not only for us Steelworkers and retirees, our families and communities – but for the stability of the company’s relationships with customers, suppliers, vendors, investors and the industry as a whole,” said the USW in the latest update.
The committee will return to Pittsburgh October 25 to resume negotiations.
“Our committee wants to conclude these negotiations and present a tentative agreement that we can be proud to endorse for ratification, but we need ArcelorMittal to join the process with a sense of urgency for that to happen. As a union, we have withstood and rejected management’s most vicious economic and non-economic contract demands by working cooperatively, standing together, sharing information and trusting each other.”
The bargaining committee at US Steel acknowledged the extremely slow pace of negotiations has frustrated members.
“We can’t predict the future, so we can’t tell you what is going to happen in the economy or how U.S. Steel is going to react, but we are committed to making sure that everyone is informed as this process unfolds,” said the USW committee in an Oct. 16 update.
“Our industry is in the midst of a crisis,” said the USW. “We did not cause this crisis; rather, it is the result of unfair trade and a drop in oil and gas prices. This led to a glut of steel imports, less demand and lower prices for our products, and global overcapacity.”
The unfair practices, especially from China, has led to the recent layoffs and idling of steel mills, said the USW.
“The U.S. needs new and better laws and stronger, more timely enforcement to protect American manufacturing. Unfortunately, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a massive free-trade agreement headed for a vote in Congress, looks like it would only give us more of the same.”
Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Steel Mills
Nucor lowers 2024 output estimate for Brandenburg plate mill
Nucor has lowered the 2024 production estimate for its Brandenburg, Ky., plate mill due to soft market conditions.
SSAB adjusts output in weak Q3, readies for Q4 rebound
SSAB said lower plate prices in the US were the primary reason for reduced results in the second quarter. With a dismal Q3 outlook, the Swedish steelmaker is adjusting production across its facilities. That includes moving up its annual US mill outage in anticipation of a better Q4. SSAB Americas Revenues in the Americas segment […]
Topalian puts focus on “unfair” trade, eyes USMCA partners
Nucor’s top executive expressed concerns over unfair trade practices, highlighting increased steel imports from Mexico and Canada.
Cliffs sees close of Stelco buy, bottom to steel tags, and Mexico out of USMCA
Cleveland-Cliffs expects its acquisition of Canada’s Stelco to close later this year, which will help the the Cleveland-based steelmaker as a bottom to steel tags nears.
Nucor posts lower Q2 earnings, predicts tough Q3 too
Nucor recording lower second quarter earnings on falling steel prices. And the Charlotte, N.C.-based predicted that profits would be lower still in the third quarter, primarily because of weaker results from its steel mills divisions.