Steelworkers Struggles
Illinois steelworker killed on the job, police launch investigation
By Jacob Crosse, 5 October 2019
Police and government officials are investigating the death Adrian Gomez, 26, husband and father of two, who was killed when he became trapped in machinery.
One hundred years since the Great Steel Strike
By Tom Mackaman, 25 September 2019
The Great Steel Strike of 1919 and its defeat hold crucial strategic lessons for workers as they enter into struggle.
IG Metall plays treacherous role in the Riva steelworkers strike
By Marianne Arens, 14 September 2019
The allies of striking Riva workers are not union officials but workers across Germany and internationally that are facing similar attacks.
Canada’s pseudo-left Fightback group covers for Steelworkers’ betrayal of ABI workers
By Félix Gauthier and Richard Dufour, 14 September 2019
Fightback’s miserable apologetics for the union bureaucracy goes hand in hand with its promotion of Quebec nationalism.
US Steel to lay off 150 workers in Indiana as Trump administration escalates trade war
By Jessica Goldstein, 27 August 2019
The announcement of the layoffs in East Chicago follows US Steel’s declaration earlier this month that up to 200 workers will lose their jobs at its Great Lakes Works facility outside Detroit.
US Steel announces up to 200 layoffs at Great Lakes Works in Ecorse, Michigan
By Jessica Goldstein, 22 August 2019
The recent layoffs in suburban Detroit serve to shatter any illusion that workers' jobs and living standards can be protected through trade war measures.
ArcelorMittal and state officials hid news of Indiana chemical spill
By Jessica Goldstein, 19 August 2019
Despite the posturing of local politicians, ArcelorMittal will likely receive no more than a slap on the wrist for its reckless polluting of the environment.
Electrical worker killed at pipe mill in Western Pennsylvania
By Samuel Davidson, 26 July 2019
Forty-six-year-old David Bupp was electrocuted last Wednesday while repairing a piece of equipment at a small steel pipe manufacturing plant north of Pittsburgh.
Talks continue after workers at Cascade Steel Rolling Mills in Oregon vote overwhelmingly to strike
By Jessica Goldstein, 13 July 2019
With a possible strike date of August 1, the United Steel Workers and management are maneuvering to impose a new round of concessions on workers.
18-month lockout at aluminum plant ends
Quebec ABI workers’ struggle betrayed by United Steelworkers Union
By Laurent Lafrance, 11 July 2019
The unions isolated the workers at ABI and collaborated with the corporation to impose a defeat that will be used to attack working conditions throughout the industry.
Germany: Riva steelworkers in Trier and Horath on strike for four weeks
By Marianne Arens, 9 July 2019
Workers are fighting against the wage dumping of parent company Riva Stahl, which is trying to pit them against the rest of the workforce to force down wages.
Quebec: Alcoa issues ultimatum to locked-out ABI workers
By Keith Jones, 2 July 2019
The United Steelworkers Union has refused to make any public comment on Alcoa’s ultimatum, let alone coupled an emphatic call for it to be rejected with an appeal for workers across North America to come to the ABI workers’ defence.
Quebec: ABI lockout in its 18th month
By Laurent Lafrance, 27 June 2019
Having isolated the ABI workers and promoted the lie that Quebec’s right-wing premier would come to their aid, the union is now turning to Québec Solidaire to give it a “left” cover.
As Trump ramps up trade war, US Steel to idle three blast furnaces in the US and Europe
By Jessica Goldstein, 22 June 2019
Because of the furnace shutdowns, hundreds or even thousands of workers could eventually lose their jobs worldwide.
Former ArcelorMittal steelworker speaks out on safety conditions and union repression
By Jessica Goldstein, 10 June 2019
ArcelorMittal and the USW union work together to prevent safety hazards from being addressed so as not to cut into profit margins.
Aluminum workers vote to strike Arconic-Alcoa
By Steve Filips, 3 June 2019
Nearly 5,000 aluminum workers voted to strike after the United Steelworkers union extended their contract.
Management demands cuts to healthcare and pensions
United Steelworkers forcing 6,100 Alcoa and Arconic workers to work without a contract
By Steve Filips, 25 May 2019
Over 6,100 United Steelworkers members at Alcoa and Arconic are being told to continue working without a contract while the company prepares to bring in scabs in the event of a strike.
Collapse of British Steel threatens 25,000 jobs
By Robert Stevens, 22 May 2019
The trade unions and Labour Party have responded to the threat to jobs at British Steel with a predictable outburst of nationalist demagogy.
Quebec premier backs ABI in extorting massive concessions from locked-out workers
By Laurent Lafrance, 12 April 2019
Legault’s pro-company bullying underscores the utter bankruptcy of the strategy of the USW, which has isolated the ABI workers while urging them to put their faith in appeals to Quebec right-wing CAQ government.
Another steelworker killed at ArcelorMittal in Indiana
By Jessica Goldstein, 6 April 2019
Fleming’s death is the 392nd to occur at the mill, which has operated since 1902.
Quebec: USW proposes further rollbacks, after locked-out ABI workers reject derisory company offer
By Laurent Lafrance, 30 March 2019
It is the Steelworkers’ systematic isolation of the ABI aluminum workers’ anti-concessions struggle that has emboldened Alcoa to repeatedly escalate its demands.
Australian unions try to push through another sellout deal at BlueScope steel
By Martin Scott, 13 March 2019
Working hand-in-hand with BlueScope management, the Australian Workers Union claimed that the fate of the multi-billion dollar company depended on “sacrifices” being made by its employees.
Australia: BlueScope steelworkers vote to strike at Port Kembla
By Oscar Grenfell, 24 January 2019
The Australian Workers Union is trying to isolate the workers and impose a sell-out enterprise agreement.
As one-year anniversary of lockout approaches
Alcoa intensifies attack on Quebec ABI workers
By Laurent Lafrance, 4 January 2019
The United Steelworkers’ systematic isolation of the ABI workers’ anti-concessions struggle has encouraged management to escalate its takeaway demands.
Steelworker killed at plant in Granite City, Illinois
By Jessica Goldstein, 20 December 2018
The death of Roy Evans at American Steel Foundry is an indictment of cost-cutting by the corporations and the complicity of the unions.
United Steelworkers push through sellout contract at ArcelorMittal
By Jessica Goldstein, 3 December 2018
Two weeks after pushing through the same concessions contract at US Steel, the United Steelworkers forced through a sellout deal on steelworkers at ArcelorMittal USA.
USW pushes through US Steel sellout, prepares the same for ArcelorMittal workers
By Samuel Davidson, 20 November 2018
After suffering a three-year wage freeze in the last contract, steelworkers will get an average of a one percent raise in real wages over the next four years due to inflation.
Worker injured in explosion at ArcelorMittal steel mill in Indiana
By Jessica Goldstein, 7 November 2018
The United Steelworkers and ArcelorMittal have remained silent on the injury of a worker at the largest steel mill in North America.
As US Steel and ArcelorMittal announce booming profits, the United Steelworkers pushes sellout deals
By our reporters, 3 November 2018
In the midst of a huge profit bonanza, unions like the USW, working on behalf of corporate management, are shamelessly telling workers it is they who must give back.
“Conditions are worse today than they were 40 years ago”
Pittsburgh-area workers speak out on USW sellout deal with US Steel
By a WSWS reporting team, 30 October 2018
The WSWS Steelworker Newsletter spoke to workers at a shift change at the US Steel Edgar Thompson plant in Braddock, Pennsylvania.
Vote “no” on the USW-US Steel concessions contract!
By the WSWS Steelworker Newsletter, 22 October 2018
Form rank-and-file committees to mobilize all steelworkers in a common fight!
Quebec: Nine-month lockout continues, as talks at Alcoa’s ABI smelter collapse
By Laurent Lafrance, 20 October 2018
Confident that the Steelworkers union will continue to leave the ABI workers to fight alone, the aluminum bosses have repeatedly upped their concession demands.
United Steelworkers announces tentative deal with US Steel
By Jessica Goldstein, 16 October 2018
Rank-and-file steelworkers must begin to mobilize now to demand time to study and discuss the full contract before any vote on this latest sellout deal.
As union ignores strike authorization votes
Tubing company locks out steelworkers in Trenton, Georgia
By Shelley Connor, 12 October 2018
The United Steelworkers continues to force US Steel and ArcelorMittal workers to stay on the job, despite unanimous strike votes.
10 October 2018
United Steelworkers union pushes concessions at US iron ore producer Cleveland Cliffs
By Samuel Davidson, 3 October 2018
The United Steelworkers is seeking to push through a concessions contract with Cleveland-Cliffs that will set a precedent for cutting healthcare and keeping wages stagnant.
Niles Niemuth brings Socialist Equality Party congressional campaign to US Steel workers in suburban Detroit
By our reporter, 2 October 2018
Niles addressed the issues confronting steelworkers, who have not had pay raises in years and face constant speedup and dangerous work conditions.
United Steelworkers union claims it is preparing to strike ArcelorMittal
By Jessica Goldstein, 28 September 2018
After a unanimous vote to authorize a walkout, pressure is growing from rank-and-file workers to launch the first national strike since 1986.
United Steelworkers block strike of US steelworkers
By Samuel Davidson, 15 September 2018
Ignoring the demands of their members, the USW leadership reopened talks with the steelmaker this week.
Thousands of rank-and-file US Steel workers cast unanimous votes to strike
By Jessica Goldstein, 8 September 2018
Workers at US Steel mills in Indiana, Pennsylvania and other states voted unanimously to strike in order to oppose the steelmaker’s demands for historic givebacks.
“We have to stand up and show we are not going to take this anymore”
US Steel workers rally in Pittsburgh area
By our reporting team, 31 August 2018
Steelworkers rallying outside of the Clairton Works spoke to the WSWS about their determination to fight US Steel’s concession demands.
Steelmakers in US demand historic concessions as contracts for 31,000 workers set to expire
By Samuel Davidson, 31 August 2018
With US Steel and Arcelor demanding deep givebacks, the United Steelworkers union has made it clear it is opposed to any strike.
The death of Ed Sadlowski and the demise of trade union reformism
By Shannon Jones, 19 June 2018
The failure of the reform movement headed by Sadlowski in the United Steelworkers and similar efforts in other unions foundered on the conflict between the needs of workers and the pro-capitalist program to which the unions are wedded.
Turkish employers grant pay raises in hopes of appeasing metalworkers
By Halil Celik, 2 February 2018
With social tensions growing along with opposition to the Turkish invasion of Syria, the employers association granted a 24.6 percent wage increase to 130,000 metalworkers.
Worker exposes deadly conditions at Detroit area US Steel mill
By Shannon Jones, 12 September 2017
A steelworker describes on Facebook the callous response of both management and the United Steelworkers to the exposure of a group of crane operators to a deadly gas.
Latest cuts plan at ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe threatens 4,000 jobs
By Elisabeth Zimmermann, 18 April 2017
ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe has adopted a new program of jobs and cost cutting aimed at slashing €500 million over the next three years.
The United Steelworkers, Wilbur Ross and economic nationalism
By Evan Winters, 14 December 2016
The USW has a long history of collaborating with billionaire asset stripper Wilbur Ross, Trump’s pick for commerce secretary.
Contract worker killed at Indiana steel mill
By Jessica Goldstein, 18 November 2016
The death of a contract truck driver at ArcelorMittal in Burns Harbor, Indiana, highlights the deadly consequences of the corporate cost-cutting drive backed by the unions.
UK: Dalzell steelworks reopened by commodities trader Liberty House Group
By Stephen Alexander, 10 October 2016
The plant has been reopened with just 120 staff, little over half of its former workforce.
Australian union imposes 10 percent pay cut on steelworkers
By Oscar Grenfell, 8 October 2016
The Australian Workers Union is playing the central role in the destruction of the jobs, wages and conditions of steelworkers.
Worker killed at US Steel mill in Indiana
By Jessica Goldstein, 3 October 2016
The death of Jonathan Arrizola comes amid a wave of layoffs at the US Steel mill in Gary, Indiana and rising complaints over unsafe conditions.
The United Steelworkers, economic nationalism and the US drive to war
By Evan Winters and Jerry White, 10 August 2016
The USW's calls for tariffs against “foreign steel” and its nationalist agitation against China are aimed at dragooning workers into supporting US imperialism’s preparations for war.
Australia: BlueScope suing steel union over one-day strike
By Oscar Grenfell, 15 July 2016
The legal action against the Australian Workers Union is aimed at intimidating steelworkers hostile to the conditions imposed by the company-union deal last year.
Half of ArcelorMittal workers abstain as USW pushes through concessions deal
By Evan Winters, 27 June 2016
The deal paves the way for an accelerated attack on the jobs, wages, health and retiree benefits of workers at the US facilities owned by the world’s largest steelmaking company.
US steelworkers continue voting on ArcelorMittal contract
By Evan Winters, 17 June 2016
The limited information released by the company and the USW makes clear this is a major betrayal that attempts to shift the crisis of the steel industry onto the backs of workers.
160 USW steel talks
16 June 2016
Steel producers summit threatens stepped-up trade war against China
By Robert Stevens, 20 April 2016
The focus of the Brussels summit on the global steel crisis was “promoting structural adjustment” through job losses, deregulation and trade war measures against China.
Economic nationalism and the global steel crisis
By Nick Beams, 14 April 2016
The program of economic nationalism promoted by the steel bosses, political leaders and the trade union bureaucrats leads to depression and ultimately war.
UK: Unions work with asset stripper to impose cuts at Tata Steel
By Robert Stevens, 13 April 2016
Plants will be taken over only on condition that wages, conditions and pension rights are decimated.
ATI steelworkers in US return to work
By Evan Winters, 12 April 2016
The contract approved March 1 after a seven-month lockout, essentially reduces workers to the status of casual laborers, completely at the mercy of the company.
Defend jobs in the steel industry!
For international workers’ unity, not national unity with the corporations!
By the Socialist Equality Party (Britain) and Partei für Soziale Gleichheit (Germany), 9 April 2016
The only way to fight the destruction of tens of thousands of steel jobs in the UK and Germany is a struggle for the international unity of the working class.
European steel workers face massive attacks on jobs and pensions
By Dietmar Henning, 8 April 2016
The proposed merger of Tata Steel and the steel division of Thyssen Krupp would be accompanied by an assault on jobs and pensions in the European steel industry.
Thousands of jobs threatened by Australian steel company collapse
By Mike Head, 8 April 2016
Steelworkers in Australia, like those around the world, are being made to pay for a colossal breakdown in the world capitalist economy.
Labour Party and unions mount nationalist campaign over UK steel industry
By Robert Stevens, 1 April 2016
The position of Labour and the unions is based on developing protectionist measures to defend what they view as an industry critical to the interests of British imperialism.
Forty thousand jobs threatened as Tata Steel announces end of UK operations
By Robert Stevens, 31 March 2016
Neither Labour leader Corbyn nor the trade union bureaucracy proposes any struggle by steel workers in defence of their jobs.
Steel workers strike in Mexico
By Rafael Azul, 10 March 2016
Striking steel workers at ArcelorMittal in the port city of Lázaro Cárdenas are demanding the rehiring of laid-off workers.
US steel union hails Obama trade war measures
By Shannon Jones, 10 March 2016
Predictably, the USW showered praise on the Obama administration for measures targeting imported rolled steel.
United Steelworkers rams through sellout contract at ATI
By Evan Winters, 7 March 2016
This contract, hailed by the USW as a victory, gives in to all of ATI’s major demands, and in some cases is actually worse than the contract ATI demanded at the beginning of the lockout.
USW-ATI contract imposes health care and pension cuts, casualized labor
By Evan Winters, 7 March 2016
This contract, hailed by the USW as a victory, gives in to all of ATI’s major demands, and in some cases is actually worse than the contract ATI demanded at the beginning of the lockout.
USW agrees to sellout deal to end ATI lockout
By Evan Winters, 25 February 2016
The United Steelworkers union and Allegheny Technologies Inc. have announced a tentative agreement to end the six-month lockout of 2,200 workers.
Arrium threatens to close Whyalla steelworks in South Australia
By Oscar Grenfell, 22 February 2016
The Australian Workers Union, working hand in hand with the company, is preparing to impose another round of job cuts and attacks on working conditions.
Lockout of steelworkers at ATI enters sixth month
By Evan Winters, 17 February 2016
Half a year into the Allegheny Technologies Inc. lockout, 2,200 workers in six states are set to lose their unemployment benefits.
Worker killed at Tonawanda Coke near Buffalo, NY
By Steve Filips, 13 February 2016
The employee died while working alone on or near a bucket elevator that was part of a coal conveyor at the Tonawanda Coke plant just north of Buffalo, New York.
United Steelworkers offers ArcelorMittal millions in concessions
By Evan Winters, 13 February 2016
With these concessions, the USW hopes to keep ArcelorMittal competitive by passing the burden of the crisis in the global steel industry onto the backs of workers.
“If the company gets away with this, they will do it with other workers”
Locked out Allegheny Technologies workers to lose jobless benefits
By Evan Winters, 9 February 2016
The more than 2,000 steelworkers at ATI who have been locked out for nearly six months, isolated by the union, have already lost health care benefits.
Job losses mount in US steel and aluminum industries
Arcelormittal announces $8 billion loss
By Samuel Davidson, 8 February 2016
Manufacturers have posted record losses amid a massive fall in prices and continuing slump in domestic and world demand.
Italian steel work faces closure or sell-off
By Marianne Arens, 8 February 2016
On January 11, 500 steel workers occupied the city hall in Genoa to protest the likely loss of their jobs.
China announcing 400,000 steelworker job cuts
By Samuel Davidson, 1 February 2016
The steelworkers will lose their jobs, in line with plans to slash crude steel production capacity by between 100 million and 150 million tons.
Locked out ATI workers in US left isolated by United Steelworkers union
By Samuel Davidson, 28 December 2015
The USW's announcement of a federal unfair labor practice complaint against Allegheny Technologies Inc. is a stunt aimed at justifying the continued isolation of the workers.
United Steelworkers announces deal with US Steel
By Jerry White, 21 December 2015
The USW has reached a deal for a new three-year contract with US Steel that will accelerate the attack on 18,000 workers at the largest steel company in the United States.
US: Lockout of 2,200 steelworkers nears end of fourth month
By Samuel Davidson, 7 December 2015
US steelmakers are using the slump in demand and falling prices to push for massive concessions and the destruction of many thousands of jobs.
BlueScope praises Australian unions for pushing through job destruction at Port Kembla
By Oscar Grenfell, 21 November 2015
The company will now try to use the threat to close the steel plant to extract more cuts to wages and conditions.
UK: Caparo steel workers sacked with immediate effect
By Danny Richardson, 18 November 2015
The steel unions, which moved rapidly to defuse any anger at the previous job cuts in the industry, have offered nothing to oppose the latest ones.
Steelworkers’ union may cut strike pay for 2,200 locked-out workers
By Evan Winters, 11 November 2015
Locked-out workers at Allegheny Technologies Inc. report that the USW is considering a plan to cut their grossly inadequate strike pay.
As US Steel and ArcelorMittal step up attack
USW isolates and divides steelworkers
By Samuel Davidson, 2 November 2015
The union representing steelworkers at US Steel, ArcelorMittal, Cliffs Natural Resources, Allegheny Technologies and Sherwin Alumina is working to divide, isolate and ultimately betray those workers.
Lockout of 2,200 steelworkers in US enters 12th week
By Samuel Davidson, 2 November 2015
The lockout of 2,200 steelworkers at Allegheny Technologies Inc. has entered its 12th week and has now become longer than the 69-day strike against the company in 1994.
UK: Jeremy Corbyn and unions demand turn to economic protectionism
By Julie Hyland, 30 October 2015
Through their protectionist policies, the Labour and trade union bureaucracy and their allies are working to divide workers and prevent a unified class struggle against the profit system.
Major shareholder predicts closure of Australian steel plant
By Oscar Grenfell, 22 October 2015
The comments underscore that the attack on the Port Kembla workers is part of a global restructuring of the steel industry.
Thousands of job losses in UK steel industry
By Danny Richardson and Robert Stevens, 21 October 2015
The main steel unions have repeated their customary pro-business objections, centring on condemning cheap steel imports from China and high taxes on UK steel manufacturers.
Ontario court allows U.S. Steel to halt retiree health benefits, suspend pension contributions
By Carl Bronski, 16 October 2015
U.S. Steel Canada has been given leave to halt health benefits to 20,600 retirees and their dependents and to suspend millions of dollars in pension contributions and local taxes.
New Zealand union collaborates in cuts to mining and steel jobs
By Tom Peters, 16 October 2015
As part of its restructuring, Solid Energy has announced the closure of its Huntly East Mine.
ATI remains intransigent against steelworkers despite financial losses
By Evan Winters, 15 October 2015
Allegheny Technologies Inc. (ATI) reported a larger projected third-quarter loss as it continues its lockout of 2,200 steelworkers in Pennsylvania and other states.
Locked out Allegheny Technologies workers to lose health care November 30
By Evan Winters, 8 October 2015
ATI’s decision to cancel health coverage is part of the company’s drive to break the workers, who are now nearing the end of their eighth week on the picket lines.
Allegheny Technologies claims most production restarted at locked out mills
By Evan Winters and Samuel Davidson, 5 October 2015
In the face of ATI’s brazen actions in hiring scab labor to resume production, the United Steelworkers continues to isolate and smother locked out workers.
Allegheny Technologies lockout of 2,200 steelworkers enters seventh week
By Evan Winters and Samuel Davidson, 26 September 2015
The United Steelworkers of America continues to isolate 2,200 steelworkers who have been locked out by ATI.
Steelworkers in Detroit call for common fight with autoworkers
By a reporting team, 26 September 2015
Workers in both the auto and steel industries are facing attacks on jobs, wages, health care benefits, and pensions.
A thousand jobs to go at UK Tata Steel
By Danny Richardson, 24 September 2015
The role of the trade unions at Tata Steel has been to demobilise any offensive by steel workers against the cuts.
Lockout of US steelworkers at ATI enters sixth week
By Evan Winters, 21 September 2015
In the sixth week of the lockout, the company maintains a hard line and continues its efforts to operate with scab labor from Strom Engineering.
Locked out Allegheny Technologies steelworkers continue fight
By Evan Winters, 19 September 2015
The lockout of 2,200 steelworkers at Allegheny Technologies Inc. (ATI) at 12 mills in six states has entered its sixth week.
As Allegheny Technologies lockout enters fifth week
ArcelorMittal walks out of negotiations with USW
By Evan Winters, 14 September 2015
While steel companies ATI, US Steel, and ArcelorMittal maintain a hard line in mediation and contract negotiations, the USW is continuing to isolate steelworkers.
Follow the WSWS