Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Union protests at ArcelorMittal U.S. plants over contract


Unionized steelworkers staged rallies outside all of ArcelorMittal's (ISPA.AS) (MT.N) plants in the United States on Wednesday, accusing the steelmaker of dragging its feet in talks over a new labor contract.
Tony Montana, a spokesman for the United Steelworkers union (USW) said the "corporate-wide mobilizations" took place at 15 ArcelorMittal plants, as well as at the company's U.S. headquarters in Chicago.
"Our members held spirited rallies to show their solidarity with our bargaining committee as we continue negotiating for a fair contract at ArcelorMittal," Montana told Reuters in a telephone interview.
He described the actions as "a variety of activities," including informational picketing, chanting and marching.
The Luxembourg-based company, the world's largest steelmaker, took precautionary measures at its plants last week in case of a strike. The union said it has not taken the strike option off the table.
Montana said negotiations were continuing with ArcelorMittal after the union separately reached a tentative agreement on a new contract with U.S. Steel Corp (X.N) on Sunday for more than 16,000 workers.
The USW's previous contracts with U.S. Steel and ArcelorMittal both expired at midnight on Saturday.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/05/us-steel-labor-usa-idUSBRE8841M120120905

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