USW Reaches Tentative Agreement with U.S. Steel | United Steelworkers

USW Reaches Tentative Agreement with U.S. Steel | United Steelworkers:



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DEC 19, 2015

USW Reaches Tentative Agreement with U.S. Steel

CONTACT: R.J. Hufnagel, (412) 562-2450, rhufnagel@usw.org

PITTSBURGH (December 19) – The United Steelworkers (USW) union’s bargaining committee reached a tentative agreement today on a new contract covering 18,000 workers at more than a dozen facilities across the United States.

The contract is subject to ratification from the members of 26 local unions at those facilities. That process is likely to take several weeks to complete. Details of the agreement will be announced following ratification.

“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.

Bargaining between the company and the union began in June, in the midst of a crisis for American steelmakers. Illegally low-priced imports from China and elsewhere, along with a decline in oil and gas drilling brought on by low fuel prices, resulted in overcapacity across the globe. That drove prices and demand for steel down and led U.S. Steel and other companies to idle plants and lay off workers at factories around the country.

U.S. Steel will 'temporarily' close Granite City facility, will lay off 2,000 workers | St. Louis Public Radio

U.S. Steel will 'temporarily' close Granite City facility, will lay off 2,000 workers | St. Louis Public Radio:



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Updated at 6 p.m., November, 23, 2015:

U.S. Steel is going through with temporarily idling its Granite City operations.

In a statement released Monday, the company said it is consolidating its work force to match declining customer demand, citing fluctuating oil prices, depressed steel prices and unfairly traded imports. 

Last month, the company sent notices to about 2,000 plant employees about potential layoffs as required by federal law, despite saying it wouldn't shutter the plant earlier in the year.

 U.S. Steel's operations in Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Alabama won't be affected. A company spokeswoman said no final work date has yet been set.