Indiana steel mill, union resolves safety dispute
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS April 26, 2013 8:30AM
BURNS HARBOR, Ind. — Union officials and the managers of a northwestern Indiana steel mill have resolved a dispute over safety issues that had slowed steel production at the sprawling mill complex.
United Steelworkers Local 6787 President Paul Gipson said ArcelorMittal agreed to a new training program and work rules that will keep a “set of eyes” on the Burns Harbor mill’s two huge slab casters that handle molten steel.
The dispute began Sunday when 10 employees invoked contract rights and refused to work at the caster job any longer because of safety concerns following the installation of new computer-controls for the process. The mill’s second caster was also shut down because of their concerns.
The dispute affected about 300 employees of the mill’s more than 4,000 workers.
