In all, the United Steelworkers of America represents about 30,000 workers at several plants in the Pittsburgh area. The move brings welcome, although temporary, relief among union workers who will continue to get paychecks.
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“U.S. Steel remains committed to operating our facilities and servicing our customers without disruption as labor contract negotiations continue”.
“We believe this continue to work agreement provides the fullest possible opportunity to resolve our differences and demonstrates both parties’ commitment to negotiating in good faith to achieve a mutually beneficial agreement and thereby avoid a work stoppage”, the spokeswoman said.
According to a news release from the Pennsylvania Chapter of the AFL-CIO, steel companies are citing a downturn in the steel market as an excuse to “gut workers’ contract language and benefits”. They would work under the terms of their current contracts, and would give the companies at least 48 hours notice if they meant to strike.
Meanwhile, United Steelworkers union members and supporters of organized labor rallied in Pittsburgh and other cities today, calling for fair contracts at those two steel producers as well as at Pittsburgh-based Allegheny Technologies, where about 2,200 USW members have been locked out since August 15.
John Gregg, the Democratic candidate for Indiana governor, said if elected, he would make sure only domestic steel goes into the bridges, university buildings and other state projects. The union also plans rallies at ArcelorMittal’s corporate headquarters in Burns Harbor, Ind., and the company’s North American headquarters in downtown Chicago. U.S. Steel owns and operates the Minntac taconite mine and processing plant in Mountain Iron with 1,500 employees, and Keetac operations in Keewatin with almost 500 employees.
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United Steelworkers is in talks with both U.S. Steel and ArcelorMittal, which operate three of northeast Minnesota’s six big iron ore mines.
