Steel Mills
Face-to-Face Talks Resume Between USW and Cliffs, US Steel
Written by Laura Miller
August 19, 2022
The United Steelworkers (USW) union resumed face-to-face labor talks with Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. and United States Steel Corp. this week in Pittsburgh after a brief hiatus for the USW’s 2022 Constitutional Convention Aug. 8–11 in Las Vegas.
Current labor agreements with the two flat-rolled steelmakers are due to expire on Sept. 1.
Cleveland-Cliffs Update
In an Aug. 19 bargaining update, the USW signaled continued positivity and optimism in its talks with Cleveland-Cliffs.
“At the table, negotiations continued this week, and we have resolved many local issues and issues related to contract language. However, we still have significant work to do on profit-sharing issues, pension issues and other economic issues,” the update reads.
A list of the locations covered by the master contract negotiations with the Cleveland-based steelmaker can be found here.
While not discussing specifics on negotiations out of respect for the bargaining process, “Cleveland-Cliffs and the USW have successfully negotiated agreements for decades based on our shared commitment to the middle class and our common goals,” a spokeswoman said in an email to SMU on Friday afternoon. “We are confident that our bargaining process will result in a fair and equitable agreement,” she said.
US Steel Update
Not as much optimism was expressed in an update on talks with US Steel.
“Many of the sub-committees report some progress,” the USW said in an Aug. 19 bargaining update. “While this is a positive development, most major issues are still being discussed, and we have a lot of work ahead of us.”
Negotiations with the Pittsburgh-based steelmaker cover all of its locations except its Big River Steel Works, a non-union EAF sheet mill in Osceola, Ark.
“We’re optimistic about the progress made in bargaining thus far, and we look forward to continued conversations with USW as we work to reach an agreement,” a spokeswoman for US Steel said in an email to SMU.
Canadian Steelmakers Update
Strikes have thus far been averted at Canadian flat-rolled steelmakers Algoma and Stelco, although some ratification votes on potential labor deals are still pending.
USW Local 8782, representing workers at Stelco’s Lake Erie Works in Nanticoke, Ontario, was scheduled to vote on potential labor deal on Friday, Aug. 19.
Stelco’s Hamilton, Ontario, steelworkers represented by USW Local 1005 ratified a new, five-year labor deal on Wed., Aug. 17.
USW Local 2251 representing hourly workers at Algoma’s mill in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, has scheduled a ratification vote on a pending labor agreement from Aug. 29–31.
Algoma’s salaried workers, represented by USW Local 2724, ratified their new labor pact late in July.
By Laura Miller, Laura@SteelMarketUpdate.com
Laura Miller
Read more from Laura MillerLatest in Steel Mills
AHMSA opens doors to potential buyers as $1.3B asset auction nears
AHMSA is opening its doors to potential buyers to tour its steel plant and mining operations in northern Mexico in preparation for the next stage of its bankruptcy process: the auction of its assets.
USW seeks clarity on USS plans for Granite City Works
The United Steelworkers union has asked U.S. Steel to elaborate on its Granite City Works plans following reports that the steelmaker is ending processing at the facility.
Nucor maintains plate prices, opens October order book
Nucor aims to keep plate prices flat for a seventh straight month with the opening of its October order book.
ArcelorMittal Mexico to import from sister mills as it works to resume DRI production
ArcelorMittal has partially restarted operations at its direct reduction plant in Lazaro Cardenas, Michoacan. An explosion on Aug. 18 rocked the massive steelworks on Mexico’s Pacific coast, impacting production of direct-reduced iron (DRI).
Fall maintenance outages are coming in hot
Labor Day has passed, the sun is starting to set a little earlier each day, and cooler weather has begun to find its way down to many of us across North America. And you know what that means for the steel industry… Fall maintenance outages!