For Immediate Release

Public Relations Division
Public Affairs Department
1170 Eighth Avenue
Bethlehem, PA 18016-7699
(610) 694-3711 - Phone
(610) 694-1509 - Fax

Pittsburgh, Pa., May 6, 1999 -- U.S. Steel and Bethlehem Steel Corporation announced today that the two companies have agreed to bargain jointly with the union on a new Basic Labor Agreement. The companies believe that this negotiating approach will help expedite their efforts to reach an early successor labor agreement, which would be in the best interests of all parties concerned -- the companies, their customers and employees.

As previously announced, the two companies and the union began separate negotiations last week to replace their current labor agreements, which both expire July 31, 1999.