GARY, Ind.—The ArcelorMittal steel company should follow the pattern set by U.S. Steel and agree to a
contract without demanding concessions, United Steelworkers District 7 Director Mike Millsap told the NWI Times Oct. 17. “Our members and leadership stood up and sent a very strong message to USS and Mittal that they are the union and they are not taking any concessions at a time when the company is profitable,” said Millsap, a member of the union’s bargaining committee. ArcelorMittal, saying it needs to become more competitive, has been demanding concessions on health care, asking workers to pay thousands of dollars a year in out-of-pocket health costs. U.S. Steel had sought similar concessions before agreeing to a four-year contract that would preserve current health benefits and give workers a 14% raise by 2021. Millsap, regional director for Indiana and Illinois, said U.S. Steel recognized that its workers had made sacrifices for the company by accepting a three-year wage freeze in 2015. “ArcelorMittal needs to recognize, like USS did, that we are not accepting concessions,” he added. An ArcelorMittal spokeswoman declined to comment other than to say negotiations are continuing. Read more
