Building & Construction
May 28, 2026
USW, Arconic ink deal for three-year labor contract
Written by Stephanie Ritenbaugh
Workers represented by the United Steelworkers (USW) ratified a new, three-year master contract with Arconic, covering roughly 3,400 workers in Davenport, Iowa; Alcoa, Tenn.; Lafayette, Ind.; and Massena, N.Y.
The agreement, among other provisions, includes compounded wage increases of 5% in 2026, 4% in 2027, and 4% in 2028, for an average cumulative wage increase of 13.6% over the life of the agreement. The contract is effective from May 16, 2026, through June 15, 2029.
The deal follows months of bargaining across all four locations, including a strike authorization vote ahead of the contract expiration date.
A number of collective bargaining agreements across different aluminum producers either expire this year, have recently expired, or are entering bargaining cycles. As those timelines converge, 2026 may be a year when labor negotiations play a larger role in operational planning, as trade issues and high prices also play a big role.
USW also has ongoing negotiations with aluminum producer Alcoa. Talks are expected to resume in June after USW members rejected a tentative agreement with the company.
USW is also in talks with steelmakers U.S. Steel and Cleveland-Cliffs.
