Warren steelworkers authorize ArcelorMittal strike if needed
Thousands of ArcelorMittal workers, including those in Warren, unanimously voted to give their leadership the power to call a strike.
WARREN, Ohio - Thousands of ArcelorMittal workers, including those in Warren, unanimously voted to give their leadership the power to call a strike.
The United Steelworkers said that 13 local unions, which represent about 15,000 workers, granted their negotiating committee the authority to implement a strike against the company if necessary.
Union workers say they can't reach a contract agreement and union leadership could call a strike as soon as Friday.
The president of Warren's USW chapter, Richard Sayers, says that it took them 10 months to come to a contract agreement last time.
"All our intentions are is to go back to Pittsburgh and continue to work towards a fair and equitable contract," Sayers said.
He says they will continue these contract negotiations this Thursday.
ArcelorMittal makes steel that is then sent to steel factories for production.
Leaders say steel prices are up and steel is in demand, so they're certainly a group of workers that are needed.
“Now that the company is generating enormous – even historic – amounts of cash, it is an insult that bargaining progress has been hindered by management’s unrealistic concessionary demands and unfair labor practices," said USW International President Leo W. Gerard.
They claim the company plans to cut costs at the expense of workers, retirees, and their families.
“ArcelorMittal can easily afford to negotiate fair labor agreements with us, but the company has instead insisted on concessions that would more than wipe out any pay increases in its proposal,” said USW District 1 Director David McCall.
McCall added that although the union would prefer to resolve the outstanding issues without a work stoppage, USW members have delivered a clear message through their overwhelming support of strike authorization.
“We are organized and mobilized and will not allow ArcelorMittal to bully us into accepting anything less than the fair contracts we have earned and deserve,” McCall said. “These are jobs worth fighting for, and we intend to keep it that way.”
