ATI and its employees have reached a six-year labor agreement.
The deal was announced Wednesday, about a week after ATI and the United Steelworkers union reached a tentative agreement on wages, working conditions and benefits for nearly 1,000 employees. Many produce specialty alloys at the company’s Harrison, Vandergrift and Latrobe locations.
The contract includes a 26% wage hike over its life, starting with a 6% raise the first year, according to the USW. In addition, union members will get a $3,000 ratification bonus, an improved vacation schedule and an additional paid holiday.
The contract will run through Feb. 28, 2031.
“We are pleased to have reached agreement with the USW for our Specialty Rolled Products employees at our Western Pennsylvania and Lockport, N.Y., facilities,” said ATI President and CEO Kimberly Fields. “This contract drives stability and consistency, enabling us to work together to serve our customers and reward our team.”
The former contract was set to expire Feb. 28 of this year, but was extended through April 30 while negotiations continued. Rank-and-file workers voted down a tentative agreement last month by an unknown margin.
Earlier this month, they rallied for a more favorable contract outside the company’s Vandergrift plant. Workers were particularly irked by their low pay, relative to fellow metals producers U.S. Steel and Cleveland-Cliffs.
“Our members stood together and demanded a fair contract that recognizes their hard work and dedication,” said USW District 10 Director Bernie Hall. “Because of their unity and determination, we were able to achieve meaningful improvements that will benefit our members and their families.”
Bouncing back from years of financial losses and job cuts, ATI reported a $368 million profit last year on $4.4 billion in sales. It was only in 2020 that the company posted a quarterly loss in excess of $1 billion.
ATI’s customers include Lockheed Martin, NASA and SpaceX.