[ferro-alloys.com]The United Steelworkers said Friday that labor negotiations with ArcelorMittal have stalled on the back of health care and wage proposals.

"Judging from its ridiculously inferior proposed healthcare plans and their refusal to make meaningful improvements in wages or pensions and their concessionary demands regarding supplemental unemployment, incentive, vacation pay and our hot-rolled steel bonus, ArcelorMittal clearly intends to test our solidarity and our commitment to achieve a fair and equitable contract," the USW said in an update to its members.

If "significant progress" is not made by early next week, the USW has said it will seek membership support for a strike authorization. The move would follow a similar occurrence where USW members working for US Steel granted strike authorization this week at multiple locations.

Following the vote, the bargaining committee would determine whether a strike is necessary "only if other strategic alternatives to bring the company to its sense are unsuccessful," according to the USW.

ArcelorMittal USA could not immediately be reached for comment.

• [Editor:王可]