New Year's Eve with the steelmakers
At the turn of the year, during the evening changeover of the shifts on December 31, the employees of the steelworks were traditionally greeted by the top managers of the Company. U. S. Steel Kosice President George F. Babcoke and his guest, Kosice City Mayor Richard Rasi, were waiting in the main gate vestibule to shake hands with the steelmakers, to thank them for the work done and wish them all the best in the year 2014, together with Vice Presidents Mark G. Tabler, John P. Coyne, Elena Petraskova, Martin Pitorak and Vladimir Jacko, and labor union leaders Mikulas Hintos and Juraj Varga.
All for customer satisfaction
In terms of external quality, last year the Kosice steelworks achieved its best results since the arrival of U. S. Steel in Kosice. The number of claims, as well as the loss rate on claims per metric ton, were lower than the set targets for 2013. These positive results are based on the joint efforts of specialists in the primary, quality, commercial and customer technical services sections, according to GM CTS USSE Viliam Gaspar in an interview with Ocel Vychodu.
Occupational Safety now overseen by Mark T. Salo
Leadership of U. S. Steel Kosice's Occupational Safety and Health Protection Department was taken over by Mark T. Salo on January 1 of this year. Before coming to Slovakia, this General Manager held the position of Director OSH Systems and Support Services in the United States Steel Corporation.
Work Life Coaching Program to continue also this year
For a year now the Kosice steelmakers and their family members have been making use of the opportunities offered to them by the employee care program known as Work Life Coaching. This program was prepared for them at the beginning of last year by the section of Vice President Human Resources in cooperation with the HumanDynamic consultancy company, and it focuses on providing assistance with overcoming career problems and with achieving personal goals. This year HumanDynamic's team of qualified specialists in various advisory fields is set to continue providing expert help again, and steelmakers can additionally expect interesting lectures, coaching conversations, consultations, activities aimed at improving work and personal time management, enhancing verbal communication, achieving career and personal goals, and increasing individual motivation.
Fifth title defence for Steel Plants team
Part of the 23rd edition of the annual Winter Games for USSK employees in 2014 consists of the traditional ice-hockey tournament held in the Steel Arena to find the Champions of U. S. Steel Kosice. The winners of this long-standing tournament, which goes on from January 20 till Febuary 20 this year, gain as well as the victory also the precious trophy, the travelling Company President's Cup. This competition sees last year's winners, the Steel Plants team, defending their title for the fifth time in a row, as they have been USSK ice-hockey champions every year since 2010. Altogether twelve teams have entered this year's tournament, and the organizers have used a drawing system to place them in two six-member groups.