Steelworkers seeking new deal protest Allegheny Technologies
Several hundred members of the United Steelworkers union and other unions marched on Allegheny Technologies headquarters Thursday, demanding a fair contract for about 2,450 of the specialty metal producer’s workers who have been working under the terms of a contract that expired June 30.
Speakers at the rally accused Allegheny Technologies of not bargaining in good faith and selfishly looking out for management’s interests. Referring to monthly health care premiums that have reduced his pension 39 percent, retired USW worker Chuck Meredith criticized what he said was a 70 percent pay increase in recent years for chairman, CEO and president Rich Harshman.
“All he’s worried about is his buddies and him lining their pockets,” said Mr. Meredith, former president of USW Local 1196, which represents workers at the company’s $1.2 billion Brackenridge plant. “I wonder how much Richard’s pension has been reduced.”
Hours before the rally, the company chided the union for not submitting Allegheny Technologies’ latest contract proposal to a vote by members. Bob Wetherbee, executive vice president, said the company needs a competitive contract to offset a stainless steel price slide caused by cheap imports.
“If ATI is to remain competitive in the global marketplace, we need to make changes,” Mr. Wetherbee said in a statement released by the company.
Mr. Wetherbee said four-year contract proposal does not reduce wages. It would require workers to pay for a portion of their health care coverage, with the contribution starting at $125 per month for family coverage in the first year of the contract and escalating to $215 per month in the final year. The proposal also includes $4,200 in lumpsum payments, the company said.
“Our employees are among the highest paid in the industry, taking home an average of $94,000 in 2014,” Mr. Wetherbee said.
Union members said some of that pay can be traced to the company’s request that they work considerable overtime hours.
The contract covers workers at plants in the Alle-Kiski Valley and elsewhere.
The rally was attended by more than 100 USW members who work at U.S. Steel and Arcelor Mittal, where labor agreements expire Sept. 1. The outcome of the Allegheny Technologies contract will have a bearing on contracts at those two steelmakers.
“This isn’t an ATI fight. It’s a steelworkers’ fight,” USW international vice president Tom Conway told the crowd.
Mr. Conway, who heads the union’s bargaining committee with Allegheny Technologies, said workers could face out-of-pocket costs of up to $35,000 under the company’s health care proposal.
“They aren’t going to get it. They need to modify their expectations,” he said.
Following the speeches, the union supporters marched up the Boulevard of the Allies from USW headquarters, turned left on Market Street and left on Third Avenue before stopping at the front door of Six PPG Place, where the company is based. Mr. Conway and several other protestors briefly ventured into the lobby before leading the marchers back to USW headquarters.