Steel Mills
Alton Steel Talks Resuming While Workers Prepare for Strike
Written by Sandy Williams
September 28, 2015
All the focus has been on labor talks between the USW and US Steel and ArcelorMittal, but there are several other USW contracts that are up for renewal such as Cliffs Natural Resources and Alton Steel.
Alton Steel, an SBQ steel producer located in Alton, Ill., is represented by USW Local 3643. The contract agreement with the mill expired Sept. 21 and workers are continuing work on a day-to-day basis.
The USW is asking for lower healthcare insurance costs and pay and pension increases. Negotiations have been ongoing for two months and progressing slowly.
“We have made progress in our negotiations on some contract language issues,” said lead USW negotiator Dave Dowling following a bargaining session earlier this month. “But progress on economic issues has been very, very slow.”
Talks are set to resume today, Sept. 29 and are expected to continue until an agreement is reached. “We’ll have to see how it goes,” said Dowling.
According to Union Steward and Strike Coordinator Dennis Mouser, a representative from USW headquarters in Pittsburgh will conduct a training session on strike procedures this weekend for Alton workers in case a strike becomes necessary.
Mouser says a rally with workers from neighboring mills is also an alternative if negotiations stall.
Alton Steel operates a 200 ton electric arc furnace and a 14″ bar mill with the capacity to melt 750,000 tons of steel annually and roll 400,000 tons of steel in the 14″ rolling mill.
Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Steel Mills
Toyota Tsusho America to acquire Radius Recycling for $1.34 billion
The companies said Thursday that Radius shareholders will receive $30 per share in cash upon the deal’s closing, which is expected in the second half of this year.
Algoma resumes steel shipments to US
Canadian steelmaker Algoma Steel confirmed it has resumed shipments to the US, effective Friday.
Algoma posts narrower Q4 loss, braces for tariff impact as US shipments pause
Algoma Steel's net loss narrowed in the fourth quarter vs. a year earlier amid economic uncertainty and tariff-related issues.
Evraz NA refutes report it falsified tests on plate for US military
Employees at Evraz North America, a subsidiary of Russia's Evraz plc, reportedly falsified quality control test results on armored plate for military vehicles. Evraz NA denies the claims.
Pacific Steel breaks ground on California rebar mill
Pacific Steel Group has broken ground on its Mojave Micro Mill in Southern California.