Region
June 18, 2026
USW says healthcare most important issue for members in contract talks
Written by Kristen DiLandro
The United Steelworkers (USW) union is crafting its bargaining agenda ahead of upcoming negotiations with Cleveland-Cliffs and U.S. Steel.
A text message sent from the USW on June 16 thanked members for identifying priorities for upcoming contracts with U.S. Steel.
“The issue we heard most about is healthcare. You were loud and clear at every location and in the surveys that maintaining our healthcare benefits is a top issue,” the message said. “We’ll be making this clear to USS in negotiations.”
The USW to date has not sent out updates on contract negotiations with Cleveland-Cliffs.
Tony Montana, the head of communications for the union, told SMU the union plans to begin sending regular updates about the status of negotiations with Cliffs beginning in July.
“Our Cliffs committee is still touring plants and meeting with the membership. We likely won’t have much to say until meetings with management start later in July,” Montana said.
Local negotiations between the USW and USS scheduled to start at the end of June or beginning of July, and that master bargaining begins July 20 in Pittsburgh.
The current contracts expire Sept. 1.
