Steelworkers strike against NLMK

FARRELL, Pa. - United Steelworkers Local 1016-03 announced a strike against steel company NLMK on Saturday, August 22 after giving the company a 48-hour notice of their intent to strike over unfair labor practices.
"It's an unnecessary action of the company but an absolutely necessary reaction of the union workforce to protest these unfair labor practices, these unfair proposals and engage in a strike," said Shane Carlin, Collective Bargaining Rep. with United Steelworkers.
Union members are frustrated with a high deductible healthcare plan they say they can't trust.
"The company has tried to do this over the force of four separate contracts and they have always rejected it," Carlin said.
"We've asked for numerous different information requests as far as on the health insurance and on what it would cost and they haven't answered," said Jim Wells, Local 1016-03 Union President.
Steelworkers aren't the only people in the community who are frustrated with NLMK. Many businesses throughout the area have signs hanging in their windows in support of NLMK workers.
"That strike's not just going to affect these individual employees," Carlin said, "It's going to affect their families and the Greater Farrell, Sharon, and Hermitage communities>"
On top of a strike, union members have filed unfair labor practice charges against NLMK.
"Strikes don't do good for either side," Wells said, "It's not something that we wanted. We wanted to come up with an agreement with the company."
21 News reached out to NLMK management and they refused to comment.