USX Says It Offered Steel Workers 10% of Profits, Warns About Jobs

USX Corp. says it offered United Steelworkers members a 10% share of its steel-making profits and warned Tuesday that union jobs could be in jeopardy because of a walkout that enters its sixth day today.

The company’s steel unit, USS, meanwhile released paychecks Tuesday after withholding them from union members at its Clairton Works south of Pittsburgh in a dispute over picketing and access to the facility.

Union Local 1557 President Charles J. Grese told about 400 angry workers who were initially turned away at the payroll office by a locked gate that the company was trying to play “dirty pool.”

Agreed to Passage

In a meeting before Allegheny County Judge Ralph Cappy, the union agreed to allow plant managers free passage through the gates, union law clerk Mike Anderson said. The company began passing out paychecks in the afternoon.

Approximately 22,000 union members in nine states walked out last Friday after negotiators failed to resolve differences over the company’s demands for wage and benefit concessions. No further bargaining is scheduled.

In a letter dated Friday, USX chief negotiator J. Bruce Johnston told 22,000 active workers and another 23,000 idle union members that “there are not enough seats in the steel lifeboat for everybody.” The company said it offered to give employees 10% of its steel-making profits with no limit on the amount that might be paid.