STRIKE AT US-OWNED SERBIAN PLANT
(PRIMI SCIOPERI ALLE ACCIAIERIE SERBE ACQUISITE DAGLI STATUNITENSI)
---
Da: Rick Rozoff
Data: Mar 14 Ott 2003 20:12:53 Europe/Rome
Oggetto: Strike At (Now) US-Owned Serbian Steel Plants
http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2003/10/4-SEE/see-141003.asp
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
October 14, 2003
STRIKE AT U.S.-OWNED SERBIAN STEEL PLANTS
Workers at the Sartid steelworks in Smederevo and
Sabac downed tools on 14 October after the new U.S.
owners rejected demands for raising the minimum hourly
base pay from $0.40 to $1.00, dpa [Deutsche
Presse-Agentur] reported. The union also wants new
jobs for the 450 workers in parts of Sartid not
included in the recent $23 million purchase by US
Steel Balkan, which is a subsidiary of US Steel. About
one-third of Sartid's facilities are currently
operational. PM
---
Da: Rick Rozoff
Data: Gio 16 Ott 2003 18:58:30 Europe/Rome
Oggetto: [yugoslaviainfo] 8,500 Serbian Steelworkers Call For Dismissal
Of New American Boss
http://www.b92.net/english/news/
index.php?&nav_category=&nav_id=25075&order=priority&style=headlines
B92
October 16, 2003
US Steel workers turn on American boss
SMEDEREVO -- Thursday – Workers at the US Steel
factory in Smederevo are demanding the dismissal of
manager Thomas Kelly, as a general strike enters its
third day.
“Nothing’s working. We expect our demand that Kelly
‘jet off overseas’ or some other place be met”, one of
the workers said.
Kelly had written to the workers accusing them of
breaking the law.
Some 8,500 US Steel employees are on strike, demanding
a pay rise of one dollar per hour and the employment
of 450 workers not included in the original sale
contract. The strike is said to be costing US Steel
700-800,000 dollars per day.
The Labour Ministry has said it will establish whether
or not the strike is legal, adding that if it does
prove to be above board the ministry will protect
workers against possible redundancies.
------------------------------------------------------
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/03289/231444.stm
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
October 16, 2003
U.S. Steel hit by overseas strike at new Serbian plant
Union officials demanding hourly wage of less than $1
By Len Boselovic, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
One month after expanding its Central European
beachhead by acquiring a bankrupt Serbian steelmaker,
U.S. Steel has its first overseas strike on its hands.
Union workers at USS Balkan walked off the job Tuesday
over a pay dispute, halting production. Union
officials are asking for hourly pay of 55 dinars, a
little less than $1 per hour.
As the strike entered its second day yesterday, U.S.
Secretary of State Colin Powell presented U.S. Steel
Chairman Thomas J. Usher with the agency's Award for
Corporate Excellence, citing the company's
"outstanding corporate citizenship, innovation and
exemplary international business practices" in the
Slovak Republic. Powell commended U.S. Steel for
"exhibiting the qualities of conscience, character and
integrity."
U.S. Steel acquired Slovakia's bankrupt steelmaker
three years ago. The overseas unit, known as USS
Kosice, has been consistently profitable since then.
It hopes to duplicate that success in Serbia, where it
paid $23 million Sept. 12 to acquire Sartid, located
about 25 miles southeast of the capital city of
Belgrade. As part of the agreement, U.S. Steel
promised to preserve about 9,000 jobs for three years
and invest up to $157 million over the next five years
to rehabilitate the plant as well as for community
support and economic development. Similar commitments
at Kosice were one of the reasons for yesterday's
award.
Spokesman Mike Dixon said the Serbian labor dispute is
part of a series of generalized strikes throughout
Serbia.
"For the safety of employees, we went ahead and shut
down," Dixon said. "It's not expected to have a
significant impact on our operations."
Production at the mill has been curtailed in recent
years by political and economic unrest in the country.
U.S. Steel estimates it will take four or five years
to achieve full production.
Until then, U.S. Steel expects the plant will account
for only three percent of annual revenue.
Dragan Matic, president of the Nezavisnost
Metalworkers Branch, urged Executive Vice President
John H. Goodish to appoint a new lead negotiator to
replace Thomas Kelly, who is in charge of the Serbian
mill.
"I think that you managed to make a historical
agreement with [United Steelworkers union] in USA and
with [the] trade union in Kosice. That can be done
with USS Serbia," Matic said in a letter to Goodish.
(PRIMI SCIOPERI ALLE ACCIAIERIE SERBE ACQUISITE DAGLI STATUNITENSI)
---
Da: Rick Rozoff
Data: Mar 14 Ott 2003 20:12:53 Europe/Rome
Oggetto: Strike At (Now) US-Owned Serbian Steel Plants
http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2003/10/4-SEE/see-141003.asp
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
October 14, 2003
STRIKE AT U.S.-OWNED SERBIAN STEEL PLANTS
Workers at the Sartid steelworks in Smederevo and
Sabac downed tools on 14 October after the new U.S.
owners rejected demands for raising the minimum hourly
base pay from $0.40 to $1.00, dpa [Deutsche
Presse-Agentur] reported. The union also wants new
jobs for the 450 workers in parts of Sartid not
included in the recent $23 million purchase by US
Steel Balkan, which is a subsidiary of US Steel. About
one-third of Sartid's facilities are currently
operational. PM
---
Da: Rick Rozoff
Data: Gio 16 Ott 2003 18:58:30 Europe/Rome
Oggetto: [yugoslaviainfo] 8,500 Serbian Steelworkers Call For Dismissal
Of New American Boss
http://www.b92.net/english/news/
index.php?&nav_category=&nav_id=25075&order=priority&style=headlines
B92
October 16, 2003
US Steel workers turn on American boss
SMEDEREVO -- Thursday – Workers at the US Steel
factory in Smederevo are demanding the dismissal of
manager Thomas Kelly, as a general strike enters its
third day.
“Nothing’s working. We expect our demand that Kelly
‘jet off overseas’ or some other place be met”, one of
the workers said.
Kelly had written to the workers accusing them of
breaking the law.
Some 8,500 US Steel employees are on strike, demanding
a pay rise of one dollar per hour and the employment
of 450 workers not included in the original sale
contract. The strike is said to be costing US Steel
700-800,000 dollars per day.
The Labour Ministry has said it will establish whether
or not the strike is legal, adding that if it does
prove to be above board the ministry will protect
workers against possible redundancies.
------------------------------------------------------
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/03289/231444.stm
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
October 16, 2003
U.S. Steel hit by overseas strike at new Serbian plant
Union officials demanding hourly wage of less than $1
By Len Boselovic, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
One month after expanding its Central European
beachhead by acquiring a bankrupt Serbian steelmaker,
U.S. Steel has its first overseas strike on its hands.
Union workers at USS Balkan walked off the job Tuesday
over a pay dispute, halting production. Union
officials are asking for hourly pay of 55 dinars, a
little less than $1 per hour.
As the strike entered its second day yesterday, U.S.
Secretary of State Colin Powell presented U.S. Steel
Chairman Thomas J. Usher with the agency's Award for
Corporate Excellence, citing the company's
"outstanding corporate citizenship, innovation and
exemplary international business practices" in the
Slovak Republic. Powell commended U.S. Steel for
"exhibiting the qualities of conscience, character and
integrity."
U.S. Steel acquired Slovakia's bankrupt steelmaker
three years ago. The overseas unit, known as USS
Kosice, has been consistently profitable since then.
It hopes to duplicate that success in Serbia, where it
paid $23 million Sept. 12 to acquire Sartid, located
about 25 miles southeast of the capital city of
Belgrade. As part of the agreement, U.S. Steel
promised to preserve about 9,000 jobs for three years
and invest up to $157 million over the next five years
to rehabilitate the plant as well as for community
support and economic development. Similar commitments
at Kosice were one of the reasons for yesterday's
award.
Spokesman Mike Dixon said the Serbian labor dispute is
part of a series of generalized strikes throughout
Serbia.
"For the safety of employees, we went ahead and shut
down," Dixon said. "It's not expected to have a
significant impact on our operations."
Production at the mill has been curtailed in recent
years by political and economic unrest in the country.
U.S. Steel estimates it will take four or five years
to achieve full production.
Until then, U.S. Steel expects the plant will account
for only three percent of annual revenue.
Dragan Matic, president of the Nezavisnost
Metalworkers Branch, urged Executive Vice President
John H. Goodish to appoint a new lead negotiator to
replace Thomas Kelly, who is in charge of the Serbian
mill.
"I think that you managed to make a historical
agreement with [United Steelworkers union] in USA and
with [the] trade union in Kosice. That can be done
with USS Serbia," Matic said in a letter to Goodish.