Steelworkers Reach Tentative Agreement with ArcelorMittal
09/02/2008 - The United Steelworkers union reaches tentative agreement on a new, four-year contract with ArcelorMittal USA.
The United Steelworkers (USW) union has reached tentative agreement on a new, four-year contract with ArcelorMittal USA.
"Our members and retirees at ArcelorMittal now have the opportunity to enjoy the employment security, economic security and retirement security they earned through years of hard work and sacrifice," said USW
International President Leo W. Gerard. "These members' unwavering, long-term solidarity and support for our bargaining committee has been rewarded."
The approximately 14,000 USW-represented hourly production, maintenance, office and technical employees at ArcelorMittal facilities in eight states will discuss the proposed agreement over the next several weeks with their negotiating committees before voting on whether to accept or reject the proposed four-year contract. The union will not disclose specific terms and conditions of the proposed new agreement until its members have had a chance to review it with their bargaining committees.
USW District 1 Director David McCall, who serves as chairman of the USW's ArcelorMittal negotiating committee, said that the solidarity of the union membership during the past four months of negotiations, and especially over the past several days, was absolutely key to achieving fairness at the bargaining table.
"We believe that ratification of the proposed agreement is a major step toward raising the industry standard in wages, benefits and other contractual protections without sacrificing the long-term viability of ArcelorMittal in a competitive market," he said.
"I'd like to thank our local union leadership for their unwavering solidarity," McCall said, "our support staff and headquarters technicians for their talent and dedication, and most of all, our members and retirees for their commitment to keeping our proud traditions of union activism and steelmaking alive in their communities for over 100 years."
The USW said that detailed contract summaries are being prepared and soon will be mailed to the membership. Ratification will be conducted by mail-in ballot.
