PITTSBURGH | The United Steelworkers and U.S. Steel Corp. plants have reached tentative four-year labor agreements being hailed as setting the standard for the industry.

One agreement cover the 16,000 USW-represented workers at U. S. Steel's domestic flat-rolled and iron ore operations, while the other is for the 900 union workers at U. S. Steel Tubular Products Inc. subsidiary in Lone Star, Texas.

Although details of the agreement have not been released, the union says it "provides very significant wage, substantial bonus and pension increases and improves benefit programs for active employees and retirees as well as reduces health care premiums for retirees."

It also resolves many issues involving local working conditions, including the outsourcing of work that will return to the jurisdiction of USW members as it was prior to the current contract. Plus, the tentative agreement requires the company to make capital investment in the plants to keep them globally competitive.

"This is an historic agreement," said Conway, USW international vice president and the union's chief negotiator for U.S. Steel negotiations. "There are only improvements. No steps back. Our members have worked very hard and deserve everything that we've gained in this round of bargaining. Our union is proud of what we've accomplished."

U. S. Steel Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John P. Surma said the company is pleased to have reached the tentative agreement well in advance of the expiration of the current contract.

"We value our ongoing relationship with the USW and appreciate the contributions that our employees make to the success of our business," he said. "We believe that this agreement is in the best interests of our company and all of our stakeholders."

The agreement, which could set a pattern for other integrated steel industry contracts, is being put in summary form and will be mailed to the represented workers at U.S. Steel's domestic plants. There also will be meeting at each local to explain the details of the agreement prior to a ratification vote by membership through a mail-in ballot.

"We've gone through some tough times in the steel industry during the last 20 years," said International USW President Leo Gerard. "Our union was instrumental in restructuring the industry and this new contract rewards our members for their hard work, improves the living standards of our retirees and the capital investments that will be made in our mills protects our communities far into the future."

The new agreements would cover the company's USW members at Granite City, Ill.; Gary, East Chicago, Portage, Ind.; Ecorse, Mich., Braddock, Clairton, West Mifflin and Fairless Hills, Pa.; Fairfield, Ala.; Lorain, Ohio; Keewatin and Mt. Iron, Minn., and Lone Star, Texas.

The current labor agreement expires Sept.1.