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U. S. Steel, Steelworkers Shake Hands On New Labor Deal
12/21/2015 - United States Steel Corporation and the United Steelworkers union have tentatively agreed to a new, three-year labor deal.
"We believe this competitive three-year contract further supports the mutual success we have had with the USW in pursuing our Carnegie Way efforts and confronting unfair trade that is significantly impacting our industry," U. S. Steel CEO Mario Longhi said in a statement.
The union and the company said they won’t release details of the contract until after it is ratified. More than 18,000 workers in 26 locals will be voting on the agreement over the next several weeks, the union said.
The sides began bargaining in June, with U. S. Steel seeking concessions on pay, benefits and work rules, the union said. They continued exchanging proposals past the old contract’s expiration on 1 September.
"This has been a difficult year and a difficult round of bargaining, but I am proud of the way the brothers and sisters of the USW stood up and demanded fair treatment," said USW International president Leo W. Gerard in a statement.
The union, however, is continuing to bargain with ArcelorMittal on a new deal. The sides have broken off talks for the holiday and are set to resume negotiations on 4 January 2016.
The union said that although some progress has been made, the major issues remain unresolved.
“We have … offered the company a series of solutions that would reduce the fixed cost of making steel and reduce labor costs while maintaining our economic security, our standards of living, and protect the health care benefits of both active and retired employees – including future retirees,” the union said in an update to the membership.
“Unfortunately, the company has ignored our good-faith efforts and demanded concessions that far exceed their needs. Much of our discussions have centered on combining the program of insurance benefits for both active and retired employees.”
The union and the company said they won’t release details of the contract until after it is ratified. More than 18,000 workers in 26 locals will be voting on the agreement over the next several weeks, the union said.
The sides began bargaining in June, with U. S. Steel seeking concessions on pay, benefits and work rules, the union said. They continued exchanging proposals past the old contract’s expiration on 1 September.
"This has been a difficult year and a difficult round of bargaining, but I am proud of the way the brothers and sisters of the USW stood up and demanded fair treatment," said USW International president Leo W. Gerard in a statement.
The union, however, is continuing to bargain with ArcelorMittal on a new deal. The sides have broken off talks for the holiday and are set to resume negotiations on 4 January 2016.
The union said that although some progress has been made, the major issues remain unresolved.
“We have … offered the company a series of solutions that would reduce the fixed cost of making steel and reduce labor costs while maintaining our economic security, our standards of living, and protect the health care benefits of both active and retired employees – including future retirees,” the union said in an update to the membership.
“Unfortunately, the company has ignored our good-faith efforts and demanded concessions that far exceed their needs. Much of our discussions have centered on combining the program of insurance benefits for both active and retired employees.”
