Tomorrow, July 11, the full USW bargaining team will meet internally to put our committees together and develop our proposals to USS for a new labor agreement. We will update you as we go through the bargaining process with USS.
Please keep in mind that the early part of any bargaining is normally very slow and frustrating for everyone. Please do not help the rumors that will be started in the plants or on facebook as they are no more than rumors and they only distract the bargaining process. Having to address the rumors takes time away from the committee during negotiations. These rumors do nothing for the Union and benefit the Company. Remember, the Company loves having distractions and creating division. Please do not make negative comments on facebook as the Company will see them. Please support your bargaining committee as they are in Pittsburgh bargaining on your behalf.
Most of you probably are aware of USS’s announcement that they intend to sell the two furnaces at the Granite City Plant to SunCoke Energy. We have successorship language in our labor agreement with USS that requires SunCoke Energy to bargain the terms of a labor agreement with the USW or accept the current labor agreement. This past Wednesday, SunCoke contacted me and requested to bargain over the terms of a labor agreement. I told them that they will have to come to Pittsburgh as I and the Local Union will be there for the next couple of months. They have agreed to do so; therefore, we will be bargaining with SunCoke while in Pittsburgh. I have also requested to bargain the effects of the possible sale with USS which we will try to do in Pittsburgh.
Mike Millsap
District 7 Director
USW Bargaining Chair at USS