Although negotiations for a new contract with ArcelorMittal resumed on Jan. 4, no deal has been reached yet between the steelmaker and the United Steelworkers union.
According to the USW, ArcelorMittal has dropped its demand for active employees to pay monthly premiums for medical coverage, but the company “continues to propose drastic changes to the designs of our active and retiree benefits plans and tripling our retirees’ healthcare premiums.”
The USW said the company’s proposals are geared toward giving management more control over benefits such as healthcare and vacation pay.
“As we have pointed out in previous updates and discussed at membership meetings, the company’s demands would immediately lower the standards of living for our members and retirees,” the USW said in a statement. “These proposals are clearly designed to undermine our ability to defend what we have earned in future negotiations.”