Keep negotiating

A strike by steelworkers would be folly

The history of Pittsburgh is closely linked with the history of U.S. Steel Corp. Once the world’s largest business, it has shrunk to the more moderate size of 29,000 employees but is still a major employer in the Pittsburgh region. The threat of a strike at the company should concern all of us.

U.S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works encompasses plants located in Braddock, Clairton and West Mifflin. A contract that covered 16,000 workers at these and other locations expired on Sept. 1, and employees have stayed on the job while negotiations continue. However, the tone of the negotiations has taken a turn for the worse. The United Steelworkers union has rejected the latest contract offer.

For the past three years, union members have agreed to freeze their wages due to pressures in the steel industry. However, they are looking for a better deal now that President Trump has imposed tariffs on imported steel, thereby improving profits for the company.

U.S. Steel has responded with offers of wage increases, including 3 percent per year for the final five years of a six-year proposal. However, there continue to be disagreements about profit sharing, a ratification bonus, and retirement and health care benefits.

“Our goal is to continue to negotiate and work with the USW toward a mutually agreeable conclusion,” the company said as the atmosphere began to heat up.

This situation provides a major test for the leadership of U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt, who assumed that role in 2017, and Steelworkers’ President Leo Gerard. Since the industry is healthier than it was in recent years, it should be possible to reach agreement.

Earlier this year, Pittsburgh residents were relieved when a last-minute compromise averted a strike by teachers at Pittsburgh Public Schools. Here’s hoping reason will prevail in this case as well.