With a Labor Deal Yet to be Had, Steelworkers Plan Rally at ArcelorMittal HQ
01/26/2016 - About a month ago, the United Steelworkers union struck up a tentative bargain with United States Steel Corporation. The union is ratifying the contract, and a final tally is due 1 February.
The hope had been that the deal would encourage ArcelorMittal to come to terms with union members at its U.S. shops. So far, though, that hasn’t happened, and the union is growing testy.
It has scheduled a rally for 27 January at ArcelorMittal’s North American headquarters in Chicago, Ill., and other U.S. facilities.
The company and the union have been bargaining since this summer, but the two sides remain hung up on health insurance benefits, the union said.
“ArcelorMittal persists in demanding drastic changes to active and retiree benefits plans, including a proposal to triple the amount retirees already contribute in health care premiums,” the union said in a statement.
In a statement of its own, the company said it has to be mindful of the current market circumstances, which include capacity excesses, competition from imports and a strong U.S. dollar.
“As a result of this challenging environment, our U.S. operations have implemented a number of cost-savings initiatives including reduced purchasing, supplier and operating costs, and a revised health care plan for our salaried employees. We have also been working tirelessly to achieve stronger trade enforcement to battle the flood of unfairly traded imports and to improve our performance through asset optimization planning,” the company said.
“The company’s labor negotiations with the United Steelworkers provide an additional opportunity to align our cost structure with the economic realities of the industry. We remain committed to achieving a mutually sustainable agreement that can support the collective future of all stakeholders, including our employees.”
Meanwhile, the Steelworkers are continuing to seek an end to the lockout at Allegheny Technologies Inc.’s mills. The lockout began in August, when the union let lapse a company-imposed deadline to accept what it called its last, best and final offer.
Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey, a Democrat, is now weighing in on the matter, telling the company it should commit to seeking a fair contract, The Beaver (Pennsylvania) County Times reported.
The newspaper said Casey promised he’ll fight trade deals that contribute to the steel industry’s decline. But ATI must do its part and unlock the doors, Casey said, according to The Times.
“Over many years, these workers have played a substantial role in making ATI successful. They’ve dedicated their talents and expertise to make ATI what it is today,” Casey said.
“We aren’t going to rebuild our steel industry by asking our workers for concession after concession.”
It has scheduled a rally for 27 January at ArcelorMittal’s North American headquarters in Chicago, Ill., and other U.S. facilities.
The company and the union have been bargaining since this summer, but the two sides remain hung up on health insurance benefits, the union said.
“ArcelorMittal persists in demanding drastic changes to active and retiree benefits plans, including a proposal to triple the amount retirees already contribute in health care premiums,” the union said in a statement.
In a statement of its own, the company said it has to be mindful of the current market circumstances, which include capacity excesses, competition from imports and a strong U.S. dollar.
“As a result of this challenging environment, our U.S. operations have implemented a number of cost-savings initiatives including reduced purchasing, supplier and operating costs, and a revised health care plan for our salaried employees. We have also been working tirelessly to achieve stronger trade enforcement to battle the flood of unfairly traded imports and to improve our performance through asset optimization planning,” the company said.
“The company’s labor negotiations with the United Steelworkers provide an additional opportunity to align our cost structure with the economic realities of the industry. We remain committed to achieving a mutually sustainable agreement that can support the collective future of all stakeholders, including our employees.”
Meanwhile, the Steelworkers are continuing to seek an end to the lockout at Allegheny Technologies Inc.’s mills. The lockout began in August, when the union let lapse a company-imposed deadline to accept what it called its last, best and final offer.
Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey, a Democrat, is now weighing in on the matter, telling the company it should commit to seeking a fair contract, The Beaver (Pennsylvania) County Times reported.
The newspaper said Casey promised he’ll fight trade deals that contribute to the steel industry’s decline. But ATI must do its part and unlock the doors, Casey said, according to The Times.
“Over many years, these workers have played a substantial role in making ATI successful. They’ve dedicated their talents and expertise to make ATI what it is today,” Casey said.
“We aren’t going to rebuild our steel industry by asking our workers for concession after concession.”
