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Steelworkers, Allegheny Technologies Return to Bargaining Table

According to the newspaper, the two sides sat down on 30 December, the first they have met since the specialty steelmaker locked out union employees in August. The discussion, which included a federal mediator, lasted three hours.

“We have scheduled additional meetings (this) week to determine if we have a path forward to a settlement,” the union said in a statement.

ATI spokesman Dan Greenfield told the newspaper the company is “committed to negotiating fair and competitive labor agreements.”

ATI locked out the Steelworkers on 15 August after the union let lapse a company-imposed deadline to accept what it said was its last, best and final offer. The National Labor Relations Board’s regional director in Pittsburgh, Pa., USA, later determined the lockout violated federal labor laws. The NLRB is to issue its complaint this month.

The union also is negotiating new labor contracts with iron ore miner Cliffs Natural Resources and steelmaker ArcelorMittal. Talks with ArcelorMittal are to resume this week after the negotiators paused for the holiday.