NATASHA LINDSTROM | Monday, July 19, 2021 6
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JOYCE HANZ | TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Allegheny Technologies Inc. continues to spar against the United Steelworkers union less than a week after an agreement was inked to end a strike by 1,300 employees across nine of the specialty steelmaker’s facilities, including in Vandergrift (shown above in this Tribune-Review file photo), Harrison, Derry Township and Washington.
Lingering grievances are flaring up between the United Steelworkers and Allegheny Technologies Inc., despite the two parties inking an agreement last week to end a months-long strike by 1,300 employees.
The union declared that members voted last Tuesday to ratify a four-year contract after months of stalled talks with ATI over benefits, wages, job protection and other issues. It aimed to halt the strike that began March 30 by workers at nine of the specialty steelmaker’s facilities, including in Harrison, Vandergrift, Derry Township and Washington.
On Monday, however, USW leaders said that “since the announcement was made, ATI management has done nothing to end the dispute,” citing persisting concerns over safety, “relentless mismanagement” and disagreement over when ATI should disburse a $4,000 lump sum payment negotiated as part of the new contract. The union accused ATI of not caring “about the represented employees, our safety and health, our families or ending the divide between management and the workers.”
ATI: Majority of employees back at work this week this week
The majority of unionized employees who went on strike are returning to work this week, ATI spokeswoman Natalie Gillespie said. Depending on their positions, some will be focused on training this week and resuming regular duties next week.
“We are eager to have our employees back to work after the USW’s three-month-long strike and are moving swiftly to safely return them to their jobs,” Gillespie said Monday afternoon by email. “We’re disappointed in the USW’s decision to perpetuate divisions, rather than joining us in focusing on the path forward
“We look forward to completing the transition phase and operating with our full team focused on transforming for the long-term success of our business.”
Union officials said they’ve clashed with ATI officials over safety matters that have yet to be resolved.
“Since the contract was ratified, we have had to fight ATI on safety issues before we return to work,” USW’s national negotiating team told union members in an update published on the union’s blog and shared via a text message alert. “We have had to fight about inspecting the plants and even had to threaten to invoke the safety dispute process..”
USW officials could not immediately be reached to elaborate on the safety issues and other remaining concerns.
ATI deems safety “the absolute focus of our robust return-to-work process,” Gillespie said.
“In fact, although the return-to-work agreement does not require us to do so, we invited all local groups on a safety tour before restarting with our USW-represented workforce,” Gillespie said. “Every employee is required to participate in extensive training as part of the return process.”
The strike marked the first such employee-driven work stoppage at the company in nearly 30 years.
“It was not our decision to strike, and we thank the salaried and temporary replacement workers who protected this business and the jobs of our represented employees during it,” Gillespie said. “As we’ve said all along, we are happy to have our hardworking employees back — and we welcome them back, under the terms of the agreement that we negotiated.”
Dispute over when to pay out $4K bonus
The union further expressed concerns that those who do not immediately return to work because of safety issues won’t immediately get their lump sum payments nor have health care coverage reinstated. The tentative contract, as ratified last week, is retroactive to March 1 and runs through Feb. 28, 2025.
“Management told us that they will deny the $4,000 lump sum payments to those of us that do not return to work, and they will not restart health care coverage for members and their families until they are recalled,” the USW national statement said. “These positions are blatantly contrary to our agreement.”
It’s unclear how many workers might be hesitating to return to work because of safety concerns.
”We will process grievances in accordance with the time limits,” the USW statement said, “and, if the grievances are not resolved, we’ll get them to arbitration as soon as possible.”
The new contract cited a $4,000 signing bonus within 30 days, followed by two lump-sum payments of $1,500 on Feb. 1 in 2024 and 2025.
“Our employees can be assured: We are implementing all aspects of the agreement in good faith,” Gillespie said. “This includes paying the year one lump sum in a manner that is consistent with the clear language of the agreement they ratified.”
Also under the contract, employees are set to get 3% wage increases on March 1 in 2022, 2023 and 2024. The union agreed to eliminate a profit-sharing program it called complicated in favor of other considerations.
Increases in the company’s medical and prescription drug costs are capped at 3.5% each year. A joint union-company committee will be formed to keep costs down or find affordable alternatives to premiums.
The USW said the contract protects union jobs against outside contractors, safeguards shutdown pensions and makes other improvements. ATI and the USW announced they had reached a tentative agreement on July 2. The union released a summary of the proposed contract on July 6.
RELATED: United Steelworkers ratify new, 4-year contract with ATI, ending strike
Natasha Lindstrom is a Tribune-Review staff writer.
JOYCE HANZ | TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Allegheny Technologies Inc. continues to spar against the United Steelworkers union less than a week after an agreement was inked to end a strike by 1,300 employees across nine of the specialty steelmaker’s facilities, including in Vandergrift (shown above in this Tribune-Review file photo), Harrison, Derry Township and Washington.
Lingering grievances are flaring up between the United Steelworkers and Allegheny Technologies Inc., despite the two parties inking an agreement last week to end a months-long strike by 1,300 employees.
The union declared that members voted last Tuesday to ratify a four-year contract after months of stalled talks with ATI over benefits, wages, job protection and other issues. It aimed to halt the strike that began March 30 by workers at nine of the specialty steelmaker’s facilities, including in Harrison, Vandergrift, Derry Township and Washington.
On Monday, however, USW leaders said that “since the announcement was made, ATI management has done nothing to end the dispute,” citing persisting concerns over safety, “relentless mismanagement” and disagreement over when ATI should disburse a $4,000 lump sum payment negotiated as part of the new contract. The union accused ATI of not caring “about the represented employees, our safety and health, our families or ending the divide between management and the workers.”
ATI: Majority of employees back at work this week this week
The majority of unionized employees who went on strike are returning to work this week, ATI spokeswoman Natalie Gillespie said. Depending on their positions, some will be focused on training this week and resuming regular duties next week.
“We are eager to have our employees back to work after the USW’s three-month-long strike and are moving swiftly to safely return them to their jobs,” Gillespie said Monday afternoon by email. “We’re disappointed in the USW’s decision to perpetuate divisions, rather than joining us in focusing on the path forward
“We look forward to completing the transition phase and operating with our full team focused on transforming for the long-term success of our business.”
Union officials said they’ve clashed with ATI officials over safety matters that have yet to be resolved.
“Since the contract was ratified, we have had to fight ATI on safety issues before we return to work,” USW’s national negotiating team told union members in an update published on the union’s blog and shared via a text message alert. “We have had to fight about inspecting the plants and even had to threaten to invoke the safety dispute process..”
USW officials could not immediately be reached to elaborate on the safety issues and other remaining concerns.
ATI deems safety “the absolute focus of our robust return-to-work process,” Gillespie said.
“In fact, although the return-to-work agreement does not require us to do so, we invited all local groups on a safety tour before restarting with our USW-represented workforce,” Gillespie said. “Every employee is required to participate in extensive training as part of the return process.”
The strike marked the first such employee-driven work stoppage at the company in nearly 30 years.
“It was not our decision to strike, and we thank the salaried and temporary replacement workers who protected this business and the jobs of our represented employees during it,” Gillespie said. “As we’ve said all along, we are happy to have our hardworking employees back — and we welcome them back, under the terms of the agreement that we negotiated.”
Dispute over when to pay out $4K bonus
The union further expressed concerns that those who do not immediately return to work because of safety issues won’t immediately get their lump sum payments nor have health care coverage reinstated. The tentative contract, as ratified last week, is retroactive to March 1 and runs through Feb. 28, 2025.
“Management told us that they will deny the $4,000 lump sum payments to those of us that do not return to work, and they will not restart health care coverage for members and their families until they are recalled,” the USW national statement said. “These positions are blatantly contrary to our agreement.”
It’s unclear how many workers might be hesitating to return to work because of safety concerns.
”We will process grievances in accordance with the time limits,” the USW statement said, “and, if the grievances are not resolved, we’ll get them to arbitration as soon as possible.”
The new contract cited a $4,000 signing bonus within 30 days, followed by two lump-sum payments of $1,500 on Feb. 1 in 2024 and 2025.
“Our employees can be assured: We are implementing all aspects of the agreement in good faith,” Gillespie said. “This includes paying the year one lump sum in a manner that is consistent with the clear language of the agreement they ratified.”
Also under the contract, employees are set to get 3% wage increases on March 1 in 2022, 2023 and 2024. The union agreed to eliminate a profit-sharing program it called complicated in favor of other considerations.
Increases in the company’s medical and prescription drug costs are capped at 3.5% each year. A joint union-company committee will be formed to keep costs down or find affordable alternatives to premiums.
The USW said the contract protects union jobs against outside contractors, safeguards shutdown pensions and makes other improvements. ATI and the USW announced they had reached a tentative agreement on July 2. The union released a summary of the proposed contract on July 6.
RELATED: United Steelworkers ratify new, 4-year contract with ATI, ending strike
Natasha Lindstrom is a Tribune-Review staff writer.
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