“Judging from its ridiculously inferior proposed healthcare plans and their refusal to make meaningful improvements in wages or pensions and their concessionary demands regarding supplemental unemployment, incentive, vacation pay and our hot-rolled steel bonus, ArcelorMittal clearly intends to test our solidarity and our commitment to achieve a fair and equitable contract,” the union said in an update to the membership on Friday. 

ArcelorMittal and the union have been bargaining on a new contract since July. The current deal expired 1 September, but both sides have agreed to continue to honor its terms as they attempt to set a new agreement. 

“We believe this demonstrates both parties’ commitment to negotiating in good faith to achieve a mutually beneficial agreement,” ArcelorMittal said in a statement. 

The Steelworkers also are negotiating a new labor deal with United States Steel Corporation. Union negotiators working on that contract already have asked for, and won, the authorization to call a strike, if they deem one to be necessary, the union said. 

U. S. Steel’s union employees meanwhile are continuing to work under a contract extension. U. S. Steel earlier this week said it does not anticipate a strike. 

“Talks are ongoing, and we continue to work diligently to reach a mutually agreeable conclusion,” the company said.