Stelco and United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1005 have at least temporarily avoided a labor disruption at the Canadian steelmaker’s mill in Hamilton, Ontario. The two parties are working toward an agreement on a new labor contract, details of which will be presented to union members on Monday, Aug. 15. “The strike deadline has been suspended. […]
Algoma Steel and United Steelworkers (USW) Local 2251 have once again narrowly averted a potential labor disruption. The Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario-based sheet and plate producer said Local 2251 had agreed to put the company’s “last offer” to union members for a vote. The union has scheduled ratification votes on the contract from Aug. 29-Aug. […]
A fire at one of Algoma Steel’s coal conveyors is not affecting iron and steelmaking operations at the company’s mill in Sault St. Marie, Ontario. But coke production will be reduced while the damage is repaired. The fire occurred on Aug. 7, 2022, on one of the conveyors that supplies coal to two of Algoma’s […]
Steelworkers at Stelco’s processing and finishing operations in Hamilton, Ontario, will be in a legal position to strike as of 12:01 am on Aug. 16, 2022. Leaders of the United Steelworkers Local 1005 said in the latest bargaining update that many issues remain unresolved with the Canadian steelmaker. “As the strike deadline rapidly approaches, we […]
Algoma’s plate mill is up and running following the first phase of a modernization project that was completed in June. The second phase of the expansion, initially expected to be finished by November 2022, has been moved to June 2023, a company spokeswoman told SMU on Tuesday, Aug. 9. The reason: “to support our customers […]
United Steelworkers Local 2251, the union representing Algoma Steel’s hourly employees, has declined to accept a revised labor offer presented by the Canadian flat-rolled steelmaker. The move comes ahead of a contract extension between Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario-based Algoma and Local 2251 expiring on Monday, Aug. 15 at 11:59 pm, both parties confirmed. The contract […]
The United Steelworkers (USW) local chapter representing Stelco’s steelmaking operations will be in a legal position to strike as of 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 22. That’s according to a negotiation update sent to members of Local 8782, which represents the Canadian flat-rolled steelmaker’s Lake Erie Works in Nanticoke, Ontario. The union said it had […]
Algoma Steel Group posted solid profits in its fiscal first quarter on rising steel prices, despite higher raw material costs for iron ore, scrap, alloys and natural gas. The Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario-based flat-rolled steelmaker also said the gains came despite a “significant” planned outage at its plate mill for a first phase of upgrades. […]
Algoma Steel and United Steelworkers (USW) Local 2251 have agreed to extend labor contract talks for another 15 days, narrowly averting a strike. The Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario-based steelmaker confirmed that in a press release on Saturday. And USW Local 2251 president Mike Da Prat confirmed it as well in an exclusive interview with Steel […]
A local USW chapter representing Stelco Inc.’s Lake Erie Works in Nanticoke, Ontario, has rejected a tentative labor agreement with the Canadian flat-rolled steelmaker. USW Local 8782 said 52% of its members voted to reject a proposed new labor contract. USW Local 8782-08, responsible for Stelco’s pickling operations, narrowly approved a new deal. One member […]
There’s plenty of doom and gloom these days in steel. Our recent Community Chat with Associated General Contractors of America chief economist Ken Simonson provided a welcome respite from the dreary mood among some steel buyers. But let’s not get carried away. Simonson didn’t say prices weren’t falling. In fact, it’s not just steel prices […]
United Steelworkers Local 2724 – which represents technical, professional, and front-line supervisors – has ratified a labor agreement with Canadian flat-rolled steelmaker Algoma Steel. Local 2724 membership voted 59.9% in favor of the labor memorandum, resulting in a contract that renews on August 1. “I extend sincere thanks to the negotiating committees for their concerted […]
Algoma Steel Group Inc. has reached a tentative labor agreement with the United Steelworkers (USW) union local representing its salaried workers, both parties confirmed. USW Local 2724 – which represents technical, professional and front-line supervisors – will hold ratification votes on the tentative pact from July 21-25. The union said in an update to members […]
We’ve been covering the latest turn of the screw in contract talks between US and Canadian steelmakers and the United Steelworkers (USW) union. Some of you have asked us lately what the key dates and companies are. Below is a summary of where things stand – rhetoric and minutia aside – with USW and Canadian […]
A second local United Steelworkers (USW) chapter at Algoma Steel has voted to authorize a strike. Local 2274 held a vote on the matter late last week, and 95.1% voted in favor of a strike mandate, according to an update to union members. Algoma, a Canadian sheet and plate mill, is represented by two unions: […]
The local United Steelworkers (USW) chapter representing hourly workers at Algoma Steel has voted nearly unanimously to authorize a strike. Local 2251 held a vote on the matter on Monday, July 4, and 99% voted in favor of a strike mandate, according to an update to union members. Algoma, a Canadian sheet and plate mill, […]
Contract talks covering more than 22,000 dock workers at 29 West Coast ports will continue past the expiration of a current agreement on July 1 at 5 p.m. PST. That’s according to a joint statement released on Friday afternoon ahead of that deadline by the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime […]
The rally was fun while it lasted, but new capacity delayed in large part because of Covid has arrived or soon will, popular analyst Timna Tanners said. And it will coincide with some demand weakness. The result: “steelmageddon” (aka “sheet storm”) might have been delayed. But it has finally arrived, she said. “Here we are with capacity starting […]
The union representing Stelco’s Lake Erie Works in Nanticoke, Ontario, said labor talks would continue past the expiration of the current contract on Thursday. United Steelworkers (USW) Local 8782 said that the terms of the old contract, which expires on June 30, would remain in effect as negotiations continued. “Members are required to continue to […]
It’s going to be a long, hot summer. I was thinking we might start to see the “summer doldrums” ahead of the long Independence Day weekend. Instead we’ve gotten a barrage of news on prices, US Steel and labor contract talks. Let’s start with prices. Our average hot-rolled coil price fell below $1,000 per ton […]
A second United Steelworkers union local has voted to authorize a strike at Canadian flat-rolled steelmaker Stelco. USW Local 8782, which represents the company’s steel mill in Nanticoke, Ontario, said 99.1% of its members voted on Monday in favor of the strike mandate. The moves comes after USW Local 1005, which represents Stelco’s Hamilton Works, earlier […]
I mentioned in my last Final Thoughts that you should keep your eyes open for potential catalysts for higher prices even amid all the signs that tags probably have nowhere to go but lower. It turned out we found one hiding in plain sight. It’s contract talk season in the US, with labor pacts between […]
Canadian flat-rolled steelmakers Stelco and Algoma face looming summer contract expirations with the United Steelworkers (USW) union. That’s well ahead of US mills, whose contracts with the USW don’t expire until Sept. 1. Here is where things stand now: Stelco The most pressing deadline is at Hamilton, Ontario-based Stelco, whose five-year agreement with the USW […]
There are 66 days to go before the start of the 2022 SMU Steel Summit Conference. The final agenda tweaks are being announced as we look to provide the most timely and relevant program for those attending this year’s conference. The conference starts on Monday, Aug. 22, at 9 a.m. It runs through Wednesday, Aug. […]
There are 66 days to go before the start of the 2022 SMU Steel Summit Conference. The final agenda tweaks are being announced as we look to provide the most timely and relevant program for those attending this year’s conference. The conference starts on Monday, Aug. 22, at 9 a.m. It runs through Wednesday, Aug. […]
High steel prices continued to benefit Canadian flatrolled steelmaker Algoma Steel Group as it posted strong results for its fiscal 2022 fourth quarter and full year ended March 31. “Our strong results for the fiscal fourth quarter capped off an incredible year at Algoma, one that produced record revenues, profitability and cash flows. Relentless execution […]
Michael McQuade, Algoma Steel’s chief executive officer, will retire on June 1. Michael Garcia has been named to succeed him. McQuade will continue to serve on the company’s board of directors, where Garcia will also join concurrent with his appointment as CEO, the company said. “Mike McQuade has provided exemplary leadership through this transition period, […]
Algoma Steel Group Inc. expects modestly lower shipments and production volumes in its fiscal fourth quarter because of supply chain bottlenecks and the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario-based steelmaker forecasts shipments of 540,000-550,000 tons in the fourth quarter and adjusted EBITDA of CAD $310 million to $320 million (USD […]
Ford, Toyota and Honda continued to see production disruptions at various factories due to ongoing protests by anti-vaxxers blocking the Ambassador Bridge, the busiest international border crossing in North America. The auto industry has struggled to get parts over the U.S.-Canada border as the protest by truck drivers at the bridge had entered its fifth […]
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. could join other steel producers in adding electric-arc furnace (EAF) capacity, the company’s top executive said. The Cleveland-based steelmaker is considering that because the cost of relining a blast furnace – and investing in the supply chains needed to feed it – are roughly the same as those for of building a new EAF. […]