Steel Markets

Tentative Agreement Reached By UAW and GM
Written by Sandy Williams
October 26, 2015
The UAW and General Motors reached a proposed Tentative Agreement at 11:43 p.m. Sunday, avoiding a strike deadline of 11:59 p.m.
“We believe that this agreement will present stable long-term significant wage gains and job security commitments to UAW members now and in the future,” said UAW President Dennis Williams. “We look forward to presenting the details of these gains to local union leaders and the membership.”
Details of the agreement will be made available on Wednesday following a vote by the UAW National GM Council. The new four year agreement is expected to be similar to the one ratified by FCA workers last Thursday, doing away with the two-tier wage system and providing improved wages, bonuses and profit sharing.
UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada called the agreement transformative. “The significant gains in this agreement are structured in a way that will provide certainty to our members and create a clear path for all GM employees now and in the future. The agreement not only rewards UAW-GM members for their accomplishments, but it protects them with significant job security commitments.”
“The new UAW-GM national agreement is good for employees and the business,” said Cathy Clegg, GM North America Manufacturing and Labor Relations vice president. “Working with our UAW partners, we developed constructive solutions that benefit employees and provide flexibility for the company to respond to the needs of the marketplace.”
UAW and Ford will wind up the 2015 contract negotiations following ratification of the GM agreement.
Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Steel Markets
Market sources say regional activity is dictating plate demand
Demand for plate on the spot market remains soft by comparison to years past. However, this week regional demand variations grew more pronounced.
AISI: Raw steel production bounces back
Domestic mill production rebounded last week, according to the latest production figures released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Production had been historically strong over the summer months before softening in early October.
US sets Section 232 tariffs on trucks and buses
Medium- and heavy-duty trucks (MHDV) and buses imported to the US will start being charged Section 232 tariffs beginning Nov. 1.
Hot-rolled sources say demand continues to dwindle, prices feel arbitrary
Genuine demand, they stated, will return when the market feels stable again.
FabArc Steel Supply completes projects in Mississippi, Georgia
FabArc Steel Supply announced this week the completion of two large-scale projects in Georgia and Mississippi.
