LABOR: Steel's Table Talk

Steelworkers' Chief David J. McDonald reached across a table in Pittsburgh's Hotel William Penn one day last week and handed a sheaf of papers to Clifford Hood, president of U.S. Steel. Thus the steelmakers opened negotiations for a new contract. There was nothing new or unexpected in the union's 22 contract demands—a guaranteed annual wage, "substantial" wage increases, premium pay for weekend work—and the first session brought out no fireworks. Nevertheless the session made history. Sitting around the table were representatives not only from giant U.S. Steel but from Bethlehem and Republic as well—the Big Three which employ 60%...