PITTSBURGH, Pa.---

The United Steelworkers announced Saturday the union reached a tentative agreement with ArcelorMittal after ten weeks of negotiations, according to a news release.

USW International President Leo Gerard said the committee agreed to a new three-year contract with ArcelorMittal USA on behalf of nearly 14,000 workers at 15 of the company’s U.S. locations.

In the release, Gerard said, “Our members’ unwavering solidarity throughout the bargaining process in the face of management’s high-risk scare tactics and demands for major cutbacks has been rewarded.”

USW District 1 Director David McCall, said that although negotiations have concluded, the battle for justice and dignity on the shop floor and the fight for a more secure future for ArcelorMittal’s workers and retirees will continue.

“After surviving the worst economic crisis in generations, our committee came to Pittsburgh seeking to improve the long-term viability and sustainability of the company and our jobs,” McCall said in the news release. “Instead of building on the strength of our partnership, ArcelorMittal management nearly destroyed it with proposal after proposal of sweeping, unnecessary contract changes and demands for major economic concessions.”

McCall said they are proud they were able to preserve wages, benefits and contractual protections for those workers with seniority in addition to maintaining the limits of work don’t by outside contractors.

USW District 7 Director Jim Robinson, who served as secretary of the negotiating committee, said members will remember the solidarity built during the past ten weeks.  He explained the solidarity helped to prevent serious attacks by the company.  Robinson went on to say when the USW next enters negotiations with ArcelorMittal in 2015 the contract will put them in a good position for future success.