USW: contract talks with U.S. Steel “extremely disappointing”

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): United Steelworkers negotiators say the union and United States Steel Corp. remain far apart in reaching a new labor contract agreement.

“Last week we gave USS a comprehensive proposal that addressed our main issues and dealt with the issues the company said were important to them,” United Steelworkers (USW) negotiators said Sunday in an update to members. “We were hopeful this would put us on a path to reaching a fair contract soon. Today, we got their response. It is unfortunately extremely disappointing and really misses the mark.”

No movement has been made on wages since U.S. Steel’s initial proposal on July 20, the USW said.

Under the wage proposal, U.S. Steel offered an 18.2 percent wage increase over the life of a proposed five-year contract.

A $4,000 signing bonus for each USW member was also offered by U.S. Steel upon ratification of a new labor contract agreement.

Slight progress has been made in talks with U.S. Steel, but the union said it’s time for the company to get serious.

The company is still insisting on what the union calls a healthcare cost shifting scheme under which significant costs would be shifted to USW members, the USW said.

The proposed elimination of successorship language that protects contracts, pensions and benefits from the 2025 sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel Corp. is another unresolved issue, the USW said.

U.S. Steel is also proposing to “eating up” USW members vacation time to meet state leave laws such as in Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Michigan, the USW said.

Commitments from the company for capital investments at U.S. Steel facilities are lacking, profit-sharing language proposed by the USW has been rejected along with partnership language on meetings, training and conflict resolution, USW said.

“Their attacks range from the substantial (attacking successorship language) to the petty (refusing to print contract books),” the USW said.

Nippon Steel Corp. in 2025 acquired U.S. Steel under a $14.9 billion deal.

Nippon Steel said it would also invest $11 billion into U.S. Steel USW-represented facilities.

The USW said its bargaining committee will stand firm on the issues USW members said are important to members.

Contract talks between the USW and U.S. Steel resumed in Pittsburgh late last week after a short break.

The former labor contract agreements between the parties expired Sept. 1.

Steelworkers are continuing to work under the old contract on a 30-day extension agreed to by both parties.

Labor contract negotiations between the USW and Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., are also ongoing under a 30-day extension.

The old labor contracts between Cleveland-Cliffs and the USW also expired Sept. 1.

The 30-day negotiations extension periods expires Oct. 1.

If agreements can’t be reached with either U.S. Steel or Cleveland-Cliffs by Oct. 1, each of the parties then has 48 hours to notify the other party of termination of the extension.

Tens of thousands of USW-represented steelworkers work across the nation at U.S. Steel and Cleveland-Cliffs facilities.

About 4,000 USW-represented steelworkers work at the six northeastern Minnesota taconite plants operated by Cleveland-Cliffs and U.S. Steel, although Cliffs’ Minorca Mine is on indefinite idle and Hibbing Taconite Co. on partial idle.

Courtesy: www.mesabitribune.com