New Collective Agreement Signed at US Steel Kosice

Kosice, August 31 (TASR) - Representatives of U.S. Steel Kosice and trade unions signed on Monday a new collective agreement that will enter into effect on September 1 and will last until March 2024, TASR learnt on the same day from the steel mill spokesman Jan Baca. "This collective agreement was bargained under unprecedented conditions. [The steelworks] have been operating on two furnaces since June 2019 due to persistent problems on the steel market. The European Union can"t muster up the courage to clearly object against unfair imports from countries outside the Union," stated Baca, explaining that while steel importers enjoy all the benefits of the European market, they don"t bear the burden of costs and obligations related to doing business in the EU. According to head of OZ KOVO unionist board Juraj Varga, the new deal is based on a strong compromise by both sides. The largest bone of contention was the issue of work time, which the employer wished to increase from 35.5 to 37.5 hours weekly, but the unions opposed. As a compromise solution, the employer will be allowed to extend work time by two hours weekly, provided objective operational needs arise, but only for the period of two months at a maximum. Another compromise resolution was made when it comes to mass redundancies as well as the protection of employees approaching retirement age. There will be no hikes in salaries this year, however. "Zero growth in salaries is understandable because we are aware of the situation our company has been in since May of last year," noted Varga. Along with its daughter companies, U.S. Steel Kosice employs approximately 10,500 people. zel/mcs