Members of the United Steelworkers (USW) union reached a tentative agreement today with US Steel on a new master agreement covering 16,000 workers at facilities across the country. The union's collective bargaining agreements with US Steel expired on Sept. 1, but USW members agreed to work under an extension as bargaining continued. The two sides began negotiations in July.
The previous agreement, reached during a downturn in the steel industry, contained a three-year wage freeze. In early September, as the company continued to insist upon major concessions from the work force, members voted unanimously to authorize a strike.
USW members will hold meetings in the coming weeks to review and discuss the tentative contract before casting their votes.
The USW's master agreement with US Steel covers a total of more than 16,000 workers at the following locations: Clairton Works (Pennsylvania), East Chicago Tin (Indiana), Fairfield (Alabama), Fairfield Southern (Alabama), Fairless Hills (Pennsylvania), Gary Works (Indiana), Granite City Works (Illinois), Great Lakes Works (Michigan), Keetac (Minnesota), Lone Star Tubular (Texas), Lorain Tubular (Ohio), Midwest Plant (Indiana), Minntac (Minnesota) and Mon Valley Works (Pennsylvania).