US Steel, union at impasse over contract

Integrated steelmaker US Steel and its union membership appear to be at an impasse over contract negotiations.

The United Steelworkers (USW) rejected on 24 August a contract proposal from Pittsburgh-based US Steel as negotiations continue to replace contracts that expire on 1 September, according to a statement by the union.

Two days later the union announced on its bargaining website that US Steel is not agreeing to match increased benefits that Cleveland-Cliffs was negotiating and which led to a tentative 4-year agreement on Saturday.

"We will not be forced into an agreement that does not work for our business or employees," US Steel said in an emailed statement today. "We remain optimistic that we will reach an agreement that works for all."

It is unclear if the USW and US Steel will extend their contract past the expiration date as USW union members did in Canada while negotiating new contracts recently with integrated steelmakers Algoma and Stelco.

By Rye Druzin