Steel Products
Tentative Deal with US Steel—Or Not…
Written by Sandy Williams
August 26, 2013
USW Local 8782 and US Steel have concluded negotiations in Pittsburgh but rumors have been rampant about what kind of deal, if any, has been made to resolve the lockout that has been ongoing at Lake Erie Works since April 28.
At least two media sources have said that the executive committee is not recommending the proposed contract. Several commentators on Local 8782’s Facebook page have indicated they received text messages and saw a posting on the Union website saying the new proposal is not recommended by the committee. The alleged comment was then removed from the Union’s posting.
The Union has posted two messages in response to confusion on the social media site.
“No matter what the media says. Don’t believe everything you hear.”
“Patients everyone! please Members need to see Tentative agreement before it goes public.”
US Steel has posted on its website the following:
“August 23, 2013 – HAMILTON, ONTARIO – U. S. Steel Canada, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of United States Steel Corporation, and the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 8782 have signed a tentative agreement on a successor five-year collective bargaining agreement covering employees at the company’s Lake Erie Works operations. The agreement provides that the parties will promptly present the settlement for ratification.
Details about the tentative agreement will be made available after the ratification process.”
Lake Erie employees on the Union’s social media site have expressed frustration with the media, union executives and U.S. Steel and are unsure what to believe.
“Stop listening to the union. Stop listening to the company. And certainly stop listening to the media,” said one commentator. “Go and actually READ the new offer for yourselves. If you like what you read and it works for you, vote YES. If you decide it doesn’t work for you, vote NO.”
The only facts that appear to be undisputed are that there is a proposal, it will be discussed with the membership on Wednesday, and a vote will take place on Friday.
Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Steel Products
Rig count update: US activity stable, Canada slips
The number of oil and gas rigs operating in the US remained unchanged this week for the second consecutive week, while Canadian activity declined, according to the latest data released from Baker Hughes.
SMU market survey results now available
SMU’s latest steel buyers market survey results are now available on our website to all premium members. After logging in at steelmarketupdate.com, visit the pricing and analysis tab and look under the “survey results” section for “latest survey results.” Past survey results are also available under that selection. If you need help accessing the survey results, or if […]
Domestic, offshore CRC prices steady
The price spread between US-produced cold-rolled (CR) coil and offshore products on a landed basis was unchanged in the week ended Dec. 20.
SMU Survey: Mill lead times contract slightly, remain short
Steel mill production times have seen very little change since September, according to buyers participating in our latest market survey.
Worthington Enterprises’ earnings dip in fiscal Q2’25
Worthington Enterprises' profits edged down in its fiscal second quarter of 205 vs. a year earlier. The company said a slump in sales in the quarter was due largely to the "deconsolidation" of the Sustainable Energy Solutions segment in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024.