MEDIA ADVISORY
Contact: R.J. Hufnagel, 412-562-2450, rhufnagel@usw.org
(PITTSBURGH) – Members of the United Steelworkers (USW) union, retirees and supporters from across Western Pennsylvania will hold a rally and march on Tuesday, Sept. 1, in downtown Pittsburgh, calling for fair contract settlements with U.S. Steel, Allegheny Technologies, Inc. (ATI) and ArcelorMittal.
The USW began bargaining new contracts with U.S. Steel and ArcelorMittal in June. The two master agreements, which cover about 30,000 workers in all, are scheduled to expire on Sept. 1. In addition, ATI locked out 2,200 USW members at 12 locations on Aug. 15 after several months of bargaining, despite the union’s offer to continue working as negotiations continued. The union’s contract with ATI expired on June 30.
Negotiations throughout the summer have been slowed by management’s demands for unfair and unnecessary concessions from workers at all three companies.
The Sept. 1 event will begin with a noon rally at the USW’s headquarters, followed by a march to the corporate offices of ATI and U.S. Steel, both of which have their headquarters in downtown Pittsburgh.
Thousands more USW members and supporters will hold similar events on Tuesday at ArcelorMittal’s offices in Burns Harbor, Ind., and Chicago.
WHO: USW members and retirees, along with labor and community allies
WHAT: March and rally calling for fair contracts in the steel industry
WHEN: Noon, Tuesday, Sept. 1
WHERE: Rally at USW headquarters, 60 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, followed by a march to ATI and U.S. Steel headquarters
The USW represents 850,000 workers in North America employed in many industries that include metals, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining and the service and public sectors, including approximately 17,000 workers at U.S. Steel and 13,000 at ArcelorMittal. For more information: www.usw.org/steel.
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