A failed contract between United Steelworkers and ATI boils down to money and respect, according to some who voted against a six-year deal Monday.
William “Scooter” Polczynski, a welder at Harrison’s Hot Strip Mill, said the contract wasn’t even worth looking at.
“We’re working with molten steel every day and making not much more than someone at Sheetz,” said Polczynski, 70, of New Kensington.
He’s worked as a mechanical maintenance technician for 37 years at the specialty metals company.
ATI spokeswoman Natalie Gillespie said she is unclear on the contract sticking points.
“We were surprised at the outcome,” she said. “We look forward to getting back to the table and reaching a contract that allows us to operate with stability and reward our team.”
Lance Jablonski, president of Local 1196 in Brackenridge, was not available for comment.
Messages left at the USW headquarters in Pittsburgh were not returned.
Polczynski, and others who declined to give their names, said they weren’t sure why negotiations between ATI and the union resulted in a tentative contract deal. The former contract, which the union and company continue to operate under, expired Feb. 28 and will be extended through April 30 while negotiations continue. A text sent by USW to workers Tuesday afternoon said negotiation meetings would be scheduled.
“We’re all supposed to make the same in the union,” Polczynski said. “A skilled maintenance job at ATI gets the same pay as the person who sweeps the floor at U.S. Steel. It’s not fair. Why are we the bottom of the heap?”
According to USW labor grades and job descriptions shown to TribLive, base wages for ATI employees lag behind Cleveland Cliffs, a specialty steelmaker with a large plant near Butler, and U.S. Steel.
At Cleveland Cliffs, an operating or maintenance technician, or Labor Grade 4, earns $34.42 per hour. That’s about 21% more than the same level ATI employee, who makes $28.40.
Employees say the company also took their profit-sharing and quarterly bonuses away.
“ATI is bullying us because they know people are scared after the last work stoppage,” Polczynski said. “People don’t want to strike. They’re afraid to lose their homes.”
Union members voted the new deal down, but it was not clear by what margin.
The six-year deal would impact 1,000 workers at ATI mills and operations in Harrison; Vandergrift; Latrobe; Washington, Pa.; and Lockport, N.Y.
ATI is among the Alle-Kiski Valley’s largest employers. In January, it reported $1.2 billion in sales for the fourth quarter of 2024. Full-year sales were $4.4 billion.