New Carlisle plants affected if steel mill workers strike

By DANIEL LOVERING
Associated Press Writer

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By DANIEL LOVERING
Associated Press Writer

PITTSBURGH — The United Steelworkers union has asked more than 14,000 of its members at facilities run by ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steelmaker, to allow it to call a strike if ongoing contract negotiations fail.

Among those are 350 workers at I/N Tek and I/N Kote in New Carlisle, said Jim Robinson, district 7 director of the United Steelworkers. The district includes Indiana and Illinois.

The Pittsburgh-based labor union said in a notice distributed at 14 plants nationwide that a “lack of progress” in the talks, which began four months ago, prompted the strike authorization vote scheduled for today.

The union has been negotiating with Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal SA on behalf of the workers and tens of thousands of retirees. The current contract is set to expire Sept. 1.

ArcelorMittal says it remains optimistic an agreement will be reached.

The United Steelworkers cited a tentative four-year deal it reached earlier this month with United States Steel Corp. covering some 16,000 workers at domestic flat-rolled and iron ore mining plants, as well as tubular operations in Ohio and Alabama.

ArcelorMittal’s “current position does not do justice to our needs and demands, and does not match the pattern set by the U.S. Steel agreement,” the union said in the handbill to members.

Among the contentious issues are premiums for retiree health care, company contributions to a trust fund for health care, employee incentives, a profit sharing agreement and capital investments, according to the union.

Tony Montana, a union representative participating in the negotiations, said a work stoppage is still avoidable.

“But we need to prepare our members for the eventuality that they could be called on to start manning picket lines,” he said.

Bill Steers, an ArcelorMittal spokesman, said the company believes both sides “continue to be committed to the process.”

“We are optimistic that a fair and reasonable settlement will be reached before the contract expiration date,” he said in an e-mail message.

Saturday, Aug 30 at 11:48 AM Steel worker 22 wrote ...

Well the Contract was been ageed to with the Retire's Health care cost at the old cost. So all you Union Haters can go back to your Double wides and pick another article to Hate on. :0

Friday, Aug 29 at 8:11 PM anon wrote ...

to, need a job, you should appl they start at $14 an hour, i'm sure they would hire you for 7 an hour,

Friday, Aug 29 at 8:05 PM steel worker wrote ...

I don't know why all of you would want us to leave behind our retirees, that worked for 30-40 years, and live on a fixed income, forcing them to come up with much more money for meds, and medical cost, that they do not have. If we don't stand up for them, who will?? YOU??? Try to suport your community, everyone in it, including those that have done there time, and should be enjoying retirment.

Thursday, Aug 28 at 4:11 PM WHAT????? wrote ...

L. Do you have ANY idea what you are talking about? Jobs are moving overseas so that owners can turn even more obscene profits than they are already making. This is common knowledge. Please don't be jealous that Union people are making more money then yourself.

Thursday, Aug 28 at 3:32 PM $250,000 wrote ...

I'm an engineer and I make $250,000 a year. I only work 3 days a week. A Republican hired me and layed off three other workers. Vote for McCain.

Thursday, Aug 28 at 12:53 PM Engineer wrote ...

You only make 60k a year, you must not be that good of a engineer, I make 200k a year!!!

Thursday, Aug 28 at 7:53 AM stop hating wrote ...

As soon as Obama takes over the unions will become popular and the regular working stiff will have a few more bucks to spend. So all you dipstick haters put up with whats going on with labor.

Thursday, Aug 28 at 5:42 AM L wrote ...

I am akin to stupidity. You un-educated work force making demands for pay are the stupid ones. Why do you think jobs are going over seas for cheaper labor. Because some guy is maing $60K sweeping. That is riduculous. I am a degreed engineer and I don't make that much. You union people are terrorists. You hold up the economy and forward progress and make demands and if those demands are not met you strike. Hmmmm very simialr to some one hijacking an airplane.

Wednesday, Aug 27 at 9:53 PM Anonymous wrote ...

go on strike have fun on your time off make the companies pay more or give more benifits, guess what it all comes back to us the consumer that has to pay the higher prices for the product

Wednesday, Aug 27 at 9:48 PM Anonymous wrote ...

The day all you union people think you cant be replaced than your only fooling your selves grow up and shut up and do the job you were hired to do and there would be no need for a union to begin with

Wednesday, Aug 27 at 8:29 PM Mittal Man wrote ...

If you could read & write, and pass a drug screen, you could have one of these jobs too.

Wednesday, Aug 27 at 7:10 PM wife of I/N worker wrote ...

To Steve at 602. Hire a scab?hehe If you could have done that job, youd be out there already!!! Keep your job!!!

Wednesday, Aug 27 at 6:22 PM Yo steve. wrote ...

Yo steve. Scabs can't run our lines. The work is to complicated. That's more then likely why you are not out here with us.

Wednesday, Aug 27 at 5:02 PM steve wrote ...

i hope they hire scabs and fire all the union members.unions are a joke!!

Wednesday, Aug 27 at 3:16 PM didntgetkissedfirst wrote ...

The strike should be a minimum of three weeks. I could use the time off to recooperate.

Wednesday, Aug 27 at 2:34 PM roleki wrote ...

L at 11:48, you've officially crossed the line into poisonous stupidity. Unions are in no shape akin to terrorism, unless you're an employer who "suffers" the terror of paying fair wages to a qualified work force.

Wednesday, Aug 27 at 1:58 PM EGL OPERATOR wrote ...

Hey there all you Union bashers. Grow a pair and vote a Union in at your workplace...If you think it's all peaches and cream at I/N you're listening to the wrong people. Yes, we make good money but it comes at a price. I won't go into the decision making part but I will tell you that you'll be changing shifts every week and your families and your health will suffer as a result of this shiftwork. When you see dark rings under our eyes, it's not because of alcoholism or drug addiction.

Wednesday, Aug 27 at 11:15 AM Needs a Job wrote ...

I know how much money they make out there and I'd be happy to work for half of what they make! Where do I sign up?

Wednesday, Aug 27 at 11:15 AM Steel Worker wrote ...

The only problem is with you guys wanting our jobs, are you qualified!! I am sure ex Rv worker could not handle this type of work!! But, I doubt that we strike and we will go on making allot of money!!! Ha Ha!!

Wednesday, Aug 27 at 10:48 AM L wrote ...

Based on the definition of terrorism and terrorists, UNIONs are legalized domestic terrorist groups. It is 2008 people, not 1926 and Hoffa is dead. Unions need to disappear. They do nothing but disrupt the economy and create chaos. Nothing but terrosists.

Wednesday, Aug 27 at 10:14 AM Anon wrote ...

If you only knew what these people were being offered there would be thousands of people begging them to strike so they could take their jobs at half of what they make out there now and be extreamly happy! Greed will get you nowhere people! Be happy with whats being offered to you and quit your whining!

Wednesday, Aug 27 at 7:19 AM Anonymous wrote ...

With the economy being what it is the only people in this article are the people that walk off thier jobs, I don't care how bad it is alot of people would love to have those jobs if you do not want to work because of a bunch of whiners saying ohhh it's to hot or ergonomic issues or whatever why don't you just get out of the way and let someone that wants and needs a job do it for you. bunch of whiners

Wednesday, Aug 27 at 6:36 AM Anon wrote ...

All I can say is if they strike with what's being offered to them their "CRAZY"!

Wednesday, Aug 27 at 6:35 AM Steel Worker wrote ...

STRIKE STRIKE STRIKE!!!!!!!

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