Steel Mills

Nucor Braces for Rail Strike

Written by Becca Moczygemba


Nucor Corp. is urging buyers to be prepared in case of a strike by railroad workers. The Charlotte, N.C.-based steemaker  warned in a Sept. 13 letter to customers that a Sept. 16 rail walkout is possible and provided some details around the situation.

A Presidential Emergency Board was established to help the Class I railroads negotiate with the rail unions and avoid a disruption to service. That discussion has been ongoing since Nov. 2019, however, an agreement has still not been reached. 

As of Aug. 16, 2022, the two parties began a 30-day cooling off period, during which no work could stop until 11:59 pm on Sept. 15. If an accord is not met by then, a strike is probable.

Ultimately, the duration of any strike is expected by the Class I railroads to be short, as it would have a significant impact on industry. Customers should work closely with their mill representatives to plan for alternative means of transport if necessary, Nucor said.

By Becca Moczygemba, Becca@SteelMarketUpdate.com

Becca Moczygemba

Read more from Becca Moczygemba

Latest in Steel Mills

USS threatens to cut ‘thousands’ of jobs, move HQ if Nippon sale blocked

U.S. Steel could slash thousands of jobs, shift away from integrated steelmaking, and move its headquarters out of Pittsburgh if its acquisition by Nippon Steel isn’t completed, the company’s top executive said. “We want elected leaders and other key decision makers to recognize the benefits of the deal was well as the unavoidable consequences if the deal fails,” company President and CEO David Burritt said in a statement on Wednesday.