Steel Mills
USW and U.S. Steel Square Off for Negotiations
Written by Sandy Williams
July 12, 2018
Contract negotiations between the United Steelworkers and U.S. Steel Corp. began this week in Pittsburgh, Pa. The current-three year contract is set to expire on Sept. 1.
“We told USS we expect a fair agreement that rewards our sacrifice,” the union texted its members.
The steel market has dramatically improved from the bargaining environment in 2015 when U.S. Steel was posting billion-dollar losses and idling facilities.
U.S. Steel restarted the B furnace at its Granite City Works in March, bringing back 500 new and former employees. Furnace A will be operational in the beginning of October, adding another 300 new workers. First-quarter 2018 results saw improvement in all three of its reporting segments and reported net earnings of $18 million and sales of $3.1 billion.
With current steel demand strong and hot- and cold-rolled pricing averaging around $1,000 per ton, steelworkers are looking for an increase in wages this year and little to no concessions to benefits.
“As with previous contract negotiations, we hope to come to a mutually agreeable conclusion,” U.S. Steel spokeswoman Meghan Cox told the NWI Times.
Sandy Williams
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