USW, ArcelorMittal talks break down
Source: Mesabi
Jerry Burnes
VIRGINIA — Negotiating teams for United Steelworkers are returning home this week from contract talks with U.S. Steel and ArcelorMittal in Pittsburgh.
Progress has stalled, but an open dialogue remains between USW and U.S. Steel. ArcelorMittal bargaining sessions have broken down, according to a union report over the weekend as employees continue to work under expired contracts.
USW said it presented a “comprehensive proposal” to ArcelorMittal, but the company broke off talks. “Instead of staying and engaging in good faith negotiations, management has walked away from the table,” read a union statement on its website. “We are disappointed but not surprised, since management has drawn out the process every step of the way.”
Union officials told the Mesabi Daily News that its committee members are returning home to provide local updates, and no work stoppages appear to be in the future from their end.
FULL story at link.
Steelworkers hold an informational picket outside the ArcelorMittal Minorca Mine in Virginia on Sept. 1. Contract negotiations with the workers’ union and the company have broken down.
Read more: http://www.virginiamn.com/
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I was back seeing my brothers and sisters in this Great State of Minnesota .
This state, Minnesota, that helped build this country with it's iron ore from Calumet all the way to Virgina.
Is being gutted by the "trade deals" that have been passed in recent years and the "deal" in negotiations today called TPP.
I was told by my brother that were he works they are going to shut down the plant for two years---------------two years------------and then think about re-opening the plant-------------just think about that for one moment.
Most of these plants are now being run by third party businesses from Sweden, Finland----------------they don't care.
They went into the plants and told everyone we are such and such business, either do it our way or you are down the highway.
They have cut back on another plant and fired over 350 human beings because of the "trade deals" that are in place
And I use to work in one of the pits called the Jones Laughlin, which was sold many years ago.
This one particular open pit was producing over million tons of iron ore per year, to help build the infrastructure for trains, bridges, building and even for the military industrial complex.
Folks------------------we as a public entity have got to call our legislature, the Congressional apparatus on this issue.
We cannot let this industry die, these workers to be laid off---------and import the steel to which we need to survive----------this is a national security issue--------------plain and simple
And while I was there Klobachar was up on the Iron Range trying to get a feel to as what was going on, and she voiced her concern about this issue.
These trade deals are turning these small mining towns that get the ore, ship it back east to be produced are dying into ghost towns.
Then the mine owners come back and tell the senior people, all the employees, after they filed for bankruptcy you know that pension , health benefits that you worked your entire life for----------------------- gone.
Because of these "trade deals" I cannot emphasize enough on what these so called "deals and corporate selling of these plants" to other entities are doing to the very fabricate of this country------------I saw it.
Congress right now has a law on the books that any government job has to buy USA made steel--------------they are not enforcing this law-----------------look at what Schwarzenegger did on the Oakland Bay bridge, steel from China--------------this is what is going on.
They blame the high labor costs---------------give me a break---------------it's about outright collusion and greed and the padding of campaign coffers to attack the worker.
Call your representative and tell them enough is enough, call US Steel, and tell them enough is enough--------------
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/trans-pacific-partnership/
Honk-----------------------for a political revolution Bernie 2016
Love the Iron Range and I like Hockey a lot and the Northern Lights
Honk------------------for a political revolution Bernie 2016