ATI sets deadline on latest contract offer to end Steelworkers strike
Allegheny Technologies Inc. has given striking United Steelworkers employees until Monday to accept the company’s latest contract offer.
If the deal isn’t accepted by 5 p.m. Monday, the company said, “It will be replaced by an offer that begins to reflect the costs incurred by ATI as a result of the strike.”
Negotiators for the company and the union returned to the bargaining table this week. About 1,300 USW members went on strike March 30 at nine ATI facilities, following the expiration of their last contract Feb. 28.
In an update to its members, the union said negotiators met throughout the day Monday and most of the day Tuesday. The union reported that ATI broke off talks late Tuesday afternoon, saying progress had been made but significant differences remained.
The union’s statement did not address the company’s latest offer. Its bargaining committee intends to meet Thursday.
In its update to employees, ATI said both sides found solutions in every area except for health care and the union’s demands for job security for office and technical employees.
The company said it gave the union an updated proposal that maintains premium-free health care until 2024 and offers the same plans to new hires that are available to existing employees.
ATI said the PPO plan proposed by the USW would be premium-free until Jan. 1, 2024, when current and future hires would have the option of keeping PPO coverage by paying premiums or choosing the premium-free plan offered to nonunion employees.
Monthly PPO premiums for employees hired before Jan. 1, 2024, are estimated to be $40 for an employee only and $125 for a family. For those hired on or after Jan. 1, 2024, the estimated monthly premium is $80 for an employee and $250 for a family.
To address the union’s concerns related to office and technical job security, ATI said it offered language to protect employees from being laid off because of having their work assigned to supervisors.
On wages, ATI’s four-year offer includes a $4,000 lump sum payment in the first year and 3% pay increases in each of the subsequent three years.
“We hope the USW will accept it while it’s on the table,” the company’s update said.
Brian C. Rittmeyer, a Pittsburgh native and graduate of Penn State University's Schreyer Honors College, has been with the Trib since December 2000. He can be reached at brittmeyer@triblive.com.
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