Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
New deal for union workers
ArcelorMittal, USW reach agreement on new labor contract
ArcelorMittal and the United Steelworkers (USW) announced Friday they had reached a tentative agreement on a new four-year contract for union employees.
The ArcelorMittal steel mill in Coatesville is among the facilities with USW employees – about 530 – covered under the new contract.
The tentative agreement will replace the existing contract that expired on Sept. 1, and remains subject to ratification by the USW.
ArcelorMittal and the USW have an agreement in place to continue operations under the terms of the current agreement until the ratification process con-
cludes. The USW ratification process is expected to take approximately 30 days.
“We are pleased to have a new, tentative agreement with our partners at the USW and believe we have reached a fair and positive outcome for all parties involved without disruption to our business operations,” said John Brett, president and CEO of ArcelorMittal USA. “We are unable to comment on specific details out of respect for the ratification process. We extend our appreciation to our employees, customers and the community for their patience and commitment during the negotiation process.”
Subject to a vote by the membership of 13 local unions, the proposed four-year agreement would expire on Sept. 1, 2022.
“Our committee’s hard work and dedication have resulted in tentative agreements with ArcelorMittal,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard. “Our members’ unwavering
solidarity throughout the bargaining process in the face of management’s persistent concessionary demands has been rewarded with contracts that recognize the pivotal role steelworkers have played in the company’s success.”
USW District 1 Director David McCall, who chairs the union’s negotiations with ArcelorMittal, praised the leaders and members at all of the facilities for standing together to demand fair agreements. “Through their hard work and sacrifices to improve the productivity and efficiency of our facilities, USW members earned the right to share in the company’s success,” McCall said. “We have negotiated fair agreements that improve wages and benefits while preserving retiree health care provisions and bolstering the protections afforded by our contract language.”
USW District 7 Director Mike Millsap, who serves as secretary of the bargaining committee, added that the unity of local union leaders and activists provided leverage for the union throughout the bargaining process. “From our first meeting with the company until our last, management challenged us every step of the way,” Millsap said. “The vocal and visible unity of our membership gave our committee the strength we needed to resist the company’s proposed cutbacks and fight for the issues important to our members, retirees and their families and communities.”
In the coming days, the USW will schedule meetings to review the proposed new contracts with members at each location and deliver summaries with mail-in ballots and instructions for the ratification vote.