United Steel Workers (USW) members voted unanimously in favor of allowing International president Leo Gerard to call a strike against ArcelorMittal USA. ArcelorMittal has a steel presence in Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Illinois and mines in Minnesota and West Virginia.
The strike against the steel company is reportedly to address the recent 3-year proposal which the USW says is concessionary and would wipe out any pay increase the company has offered. The latest proposal reportedly decreases 72 cents an hour, increases insurance costs, increases pension fund contributions from employees, and eliminates a bonus program while offering “some monies upfront.”
The ArcelorMittal union workers followed USW members employed at US Steel mills, who agreed to a strike authorization vote earlier this month, according to union officials.
The USW stated in its memo that it has submitted a proposal that includes wages consistent with gains in manufacturing, increases in pension contributions by the company, and improved dental coverage, among other items.
According to ArcelorMittal, the negotiations will resume in Pittsburgh on September 20.