TMCnet News
Proposed steel union contract contains pay increases, no change in workers' health benefitsSep 04, 2012 (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The tentative agreement between U.S. Steel and about 16,000 members of the United Steelworkers union calls for 4.5 percent in pay increases over the life of the three-year proposal and no change in health care benefits for workers. The Pittsburgh steelmaker or the USW announced Sunday they had reached a tentative agreement but would not share details of the proposal. Summaries of the proposal, however, have been posted on several Facebook pages of USW locals. The summaries outline a 2 percent pay increase next Sept. 1 and a 2.5 percent increase Jan. 1, 2015. Workers would also get a $2,000 signing bonus Oct. 15 and another $500 bonus April 1, 2014. While active workers would see not change in their health care benefits, retired workers would pay another $20 or $40 per month for coverage, depending on whether they are single or married. USW members are expected to get a copy of the contract proposal in about two weeks and would vote on whether to ratify the contract after that. It would replace a four-year contract that expired Saturday. "I honestly believe we did as well as we could at the point we're at now," USW Local 68 president Jeff Evans said in a note to members posted at the local's website. Local 68 represents workers at U.S. Steel's plant in Granite City, Ill. Meanwhile, nearly 14,000 USW members who work for ArcelorMittal remain on the job and are working under the terms of a labor agreement that also expired Saturday. In a statement issued Sunday, USW district director Jim Robinson said the Luxembourg-based steel producer was balking at USW demands "for modest wage and benefit improvements." Len Boselovic: [email protected] or 412-263-1941. ___ (c)2012 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Visit the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at www.post-gazette.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |