US Steel and the USW are continuing efforts to hammer out a deal at the bargaining table. In a Sept 10 update the USW said negotiations were progressing slowing with progress on some significant issues but with “unrealistic and unacceptable demands for concessions” on others. Unacceptable to the union is a two tier plan that […]
As expected, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has made a preliminary determination that cold-rolled steel produced in seven foreign countries (Brazil, China, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea and UK) is causing or threatening to cause injury to the domestic steel industry. The Netherlands, which was also named in the antidumping suit, was dropped from […]
Concern is mounting regarding US Steel’s announcement that it will move production from US Steel Canada to the United States. “When is the federal government going to stand up to U.S. Steel and defend Canadian workers and pensioners?” asked Gary Howe, President of USW Local 1005 in Hamilton in a recent USW posting. “From Day […]
Progress appears stalled at the bargaining table with neither ArcelorMittal nor the USW willing to make concessions. In Update 12 on Friday, the USW reported progress in the labor negotiations has been “slow.” “Although the company says that it wants a new contract with our union, that desire has not been reflected in its proposals […]
The union, which in its fourth week of lockout at ATI, filed an affidavit with the National Labor Relations Board on Wednesday claiming the lockout is illegal. Tom Conway, USW vice president and chief negotiator for the union, filed the affidavit but would not detail reasons why the lockout is illegal. The charges are currently […]
Manufacturing expanded at its slowest pace in two years, according to August data from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). On the domestic front, consumer spending remains strong bolstered by low gas prices and job growth but manufacturing for export has suffered from ailing global economies and the strength of the US dollar. The export […]
Construction firms are finding it increasingly difficult to find qualified craft workers, according to a new report by the Associated General Contractors of America. More than 2 million construction workers were laid off in the 2008 recession with many of those never returning to the industry. In a survey of 1,358 construction firms, 86 percent […]
Planning for nonresidential construction increased in August according to the Dodge Momentum Index by Dodge Data & Analytics. The Index rose 2.8 percent from July to register 128.3. The Momentum Index is a monthly measure of the first (or initial) report for nonresidential building projects in planning, which have been shown to lead construction spending […]
Labor Day came and went without labor negotiations coming to a head for US Steel or ArcelorMittal. Although the parties were committed to staying at the bargaining table over the weekend, no agreement was made and, fortunately, no lockouts or strikes either. Allegheny Technology (ATI) is entering its fourth week of lockout for its 2,200 […]
Shipping on the Rouge River in Detroit has been at a standstill ever since a bank collapsed on Aug. 23 blocking the waterway near the Carmeuse Lime dock. Freighters attempting to bring iron ore and other raw materials to steel mills in the area have been unable to complete deliveries and dock inventories are declining […]
Trade discussion at the 2015 SMU Steel Summit Conference brought a number of conflicting views. Well before the Trade Panel began their formal presentations on Tuesday, attendees at the conference heard a number of comments on imports, steel overcapacity and whether the trade cases that have been initiated will help or hurt the US steel […]
US Steel plans to relocate 15,000 tons of monthly automotive steel production from Hamilton Works and Lake Erie Works to its US facilities. Court monitor Alex Morrison was informed that the reallocation will take effect for customer shipments in Oct. 2015. Seventeen employees at Hamilton will be laid off and 10 others redeployed. The production […]
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of heavy walled rectangular welded carbon steel pipes and tubes from Korea, Mexico, and Turkey that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value and allegedly […]
For those interested in more information on the HRC trade case, the following is a reprint of the International Trade Administration Fact Sheet on the AD/CVD investigation into imports of hot rolled steel flat products from seven countries. The US DOC did decide earlier this week to allow the HRC case to move forward. ITA […]
The USW plans to meet with Allegheny Technologies Inc. and a federal mediator in Pittsburgh on Sept. 11 and 12. ATI locked out its 2200 steelworkers August 15 after contract talks broke down. The USW claims the lockout was unlawful and has been ”pursuing all legal remedies that are available.” The union in communication with […]
The United Steel Workers said it would prefer to continue contract negotiations rather than seek a strike authorization from the membership. On Monday, June 1, the day before contract expiration, the USW offered to continue working under the previous contract while continuing negotiations with US Steel. US Steel responded that it remained committed to operating […]
On Monday, Aug. 1, ArcelorMittal accepted the USW offer to continue to remain at the negotiation table under a “continue to work agreement.” “We believe this “continue to work agreement” provides the fullest opportunity to resolve our differences and demonstrates both parties commitment to negotiating in good faith to achieve a mutually beneficial agreement and […]
The Chicago Business Barometer stayed fairly steady in August, falling from 54.7 in July to 54.4. Chief Economist of MNI Indicators Philip Uglow said, “It was pretty much steady as she goes in August with orders and output just about holding on to July‘s gains. While the slowdown earlier in the year looks temporary, we‘re […]
The USW issued an update Friday regarding ArcelorMittal/USW negotiations. At this time the USW negotiating committee intends to remain at the bargaining table rather than seeking strike authorization from the membership. The update reads as follows: Our committee continued to meet both internally and with ArcelorMittal management this week in Pittsburgh. Although we are far […]
Essar Steel Algoma announced that first quarter FY 2016, ending June 30, 2015, closed with a positive EBITDA of CDN $12.4 million. Capacity utilization was at 90 percent and steel shipments of 632,000 tons were 19 percent higher year over year. Higher production and shipments, however, were unable to counter low pricing caused by dumped […]
United Auto Workers negotiations are nearing the contract expiration date of Sept. 14. The biggest issue this year is closing the gap in the two-tier wage structure at Detroit’s Big Three automakers. The two-tier system was established in 2007 to help auto manufacturers remain competitive with foreign counterparts. Tier 1, or legacy workers earn about […]
The USW said it is committed to moving forward in contract negotiations at US Steel and is continuing to meet regularly with US Steel representatives in Pittsburgh. The current contract agreement will expire on Sept 1 and the parties are still wrangling over health care, hours, overtime and contracting out. The USW wrote in its […]
The Durable Goods report from the US Census Bureau showed a 2 percent increase month to month of new orders in July. New orders data was stronger than expected and the second month of gain after an advance in June of 4.1 percent. July’s increase was led by orders for automotive and military goods. The […]
AWMI, August 26, 2015: Mary A. Wardle, Sales Manager, Western Region, for Steelscape has been named Member of the Year by the Association of Women in the Metal Industries (AWMI), the highest honor awarded by the organization that supports and encourages leadership roles of women in the metal industries. Ms. Wardle was nominated by her […]
As the deadline for contract expiration draws near (Sept 1), SMU thought a historical perspective on US Steel and USW negotiations might be in order. In the history of US Steel there have been only two labor work stoppages. The first was a historic 116 day strike by 500,000 steelworkers in 1959. The second occurred […]
The USW union is reaching back into the annuals of steel strife to remind their members of the fight that was waged in order to receive some of the things that USS and ArcelorMittal want to change. Empty rhetoric or a sign of problems to come? A recent USW update referenced the song Gary, Indiana […]
Bluescope Steel, which owns a 50 percent share of joint venture North Star Bluescope Steel, reported strong results for North Star in FY 2015. Hot rolled product sales were AUD $762.6 million on higher volumes and favorable AUD:USD exchange rate for fiscal year 2015 (based on 50 percent share). The company kept a consistent 100 […]
USW workers came out in force in rallies at ArcelorMittal and US Steel locations across the country last week. About 3,000 steelworkers marched to the gates of US Steel’s Gary Works in Indiana carrying signs saying “Fair Contract now” and “Mario Got his $15,000,000. Where’s Ours?” Hobart Mayor Brian Snedecor joined other mayors in the […]
Big River Steel announced a series of leadership appointments today following the unexpected death earlier this week of CEO John Correnti. Dan Murray, a member of the board, was appointed as chairman of the board of directors. Jim Bell, construction manager at Big River Steel, was elected to the board of directors. Dave Stickler, […]
Union workers from US Steel and ArcelorMittal staged rallies and marches at locations across the country this week. Contract negotiations are stalled over concessions the companies want on health and retirement benefits. Carrying signs and rallying to slogans like “United we bargain, divided we beg” and “No contract no peace,” thousands of USW members took […]