Market Segment
May 28, 2026
USW and USS set July start date for master contract talks
Written by Laura Miller
The United Steelworkers (USW) confirmed the dates for the official start of contract negotiations with U.S. Steel.
The union said local negotiations will begin in late June/early July, with master bargaining starting on July 20 in Pittsburgh, where both the union and the steelmaker are headquartered.
All USW locals have been preparing for local bargaining, the union said. Local bargaining aims to resolve local issues before master contract talks.
Once master bargaining begins, it usually runs through until the current contract’s expiration, which in this case is Sept. 1. However, after recent talks with USS management, the two sides agreed to meet for one week in July, then take a two-week recess before resuming talks on Aug. 10.
“We pushed to get the July week because we believe it will help with setting the stage, exchanging initial proposals and gathering info,” USW stated in a communication with members on Thursday. “Our union is ready and committed to bargain a fair contract. Let’s go!”
U.S. Steel had not responded to a request for comment by press time.
Cleveland-Cliffs bargaining update
When asked about the status of talks with other integrated US producer Cleveland-Cliffs, a USW spokesman said its “Cliffs bargaining committee is about to embark on a series of local union meetings and plant tours at the Cliffs facilities for most of June.”
The union will provide regular updates in July, he added.
A request for comment from Cliffs was not returned by the time of this story’s publication.
