Labor Negotiations Stall at ArcelorMittal

ArcelorMittal USA has walked away from the bargaining table following submission of a proposal by the USW that “meets our members’ needs and protects benefits.” The union called the move by management “disappointing but not surprising.” The negotiating committee is returning to the plants and has scheduled informational meetings Tuesday in Weirton at 3 p.m. and in Warren at 7 p.m. The committee will meet with union steelworkers in Cleveland on Wednesday.

The USW wrote in an update to members, “ArcelorMittal continues to demand major economic and non-economic concessions on many issues, such as vacation pay, incentive pay, sickness and accident benefits and transfer rights. The company refuses to consider any healthcare proposal that does not include monthly premium contributions for active employees and significant increases in the amount retirees already pay for their benefits while shifting everyone into plans with considerably less coverage and much higher deductibles.”