USS CEO Burritt Encouraged with New USW Leadership Ahead of Contract Talks
US Steel’s labor contract with about 11,000 employees represented by the United Steelworkers (USW) expires September 1, and official negotiations are slated to begin in earnest in early July — but that hasn’t stopped USS President and CEO David B. Burritt and USW International President Roxanne Brown from getting together early. Burritt told WSD on the sidelines of this week’s Global Steel Dynamics Forum that he’s impressed with the new head of the Union, who was elected in the fall of 2025.
“Roxanne Brown, the new leader, is a breath of fresh air,” Burritt said, “And I’ve already had more meetings with her on the start date than I had with her predecessor. She’s very good to engage with; I’ve had three meals with her, and she even paid for two of them and I’ve never had that happen before,” he quipped, adding, “So I think we enjoy talking with each other.”
He noted that the two were talking just the other day, and Brown said something to the effect that there will be disagreements from time to time and that the relationship will take some hard work. “I said, ‘I really like you, I don’t think it’s hard work at all, I look forward to getting together with you.’”
Burritt said that there is good “transparency and collegiality” between them and an openness to talk about tough issues. “We’re going to be fine. I think she’s providing the appropriate level of leadership.”
This will be US Steel’s first negotiation with the USW after the Nippon Steel merger. “We know how strongly the USW supported Cleveland-Cliffs,” Burritt recalled, adding, “We don’t like the way that went, but we’re turning the page. Let’s start anew and let’s bring this collaboration together, this partnership together, and what we like to say, we want our best days to be ahead.”
He summarized: “I always say: it’s going so well, so far.”