Exhibit 99.1
United States Steel Corporation Susan M. Suver
600 Grant Street Vice President -
[U. S. Steel logo] Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2800 Human Resources
Voluntary Early Retirement Program - 2009
Dear
As you are aware, our Company has been severely affected by the U.S. and global
financial crisis. Though the reality of the current difficult situation is
clear, we are not sure how long this crisis will last. On December 16, 2008, we
announced a series of actions designed to further reduce costs and to staff our
business consistent with our current customer demand. One of the actions
announced was a targeted voluntary early retirement program (the "2009 VERP").
You are receiving this package of information because you are eligible to retire
under the 2009 VERP. I strongly encourage you to carefully read these materials
to fully understand how taking advantage of this opportunity can positively
impact you and your plans for retirement.
Eligibility - In general, eligibility for the 2009 VERP is limited to certain
groups of non-represented employees who are at least age 57 with at least two
years of Benefit Service as of December 31, 2008. However, if the number of
employees who elect to retire under the 2009 VERP exceeds the maximum number
established under the program, elections to retire will be accepted in an order
based on descending years of Continuous Service until the maximum allowed number
of participating employees is reached.
Retirement Date - Except in limited cases, employees who retire under the terms
of the 2009 VERP will retire on February 28, 2009. To ensure an orderly
transition of responsibilities, the Company, at its sole discretion, may delay a
retirement date under the 2009 VERP beyond February 28, 2009.
Enhanced Retirement Benefits - By electing to retire under the 2009 VERP, you
will be taking advantage of benefit enhancements designed to help you transition
into retirement with benefits that are significantly greater than those you
would otherwise be eligible to receive at this time:
* Severance pay equal to 12 months of your current monthly base salary
payable in a lump sum
* One additional year of age and service for purposes of determining certain
retirement benefits
* Lump-sum protection by locking in the interest rate used to determine the
value of your lump sum from the USS defined benefit pension plan
* A $20,000 unfunded Retiree Health Account ("RHA") for you, and another
$20,000 unfunded RHA for your spouse if you are married at retirement,
to help offset your premiums for health care during retirement
* Removing the age 60 requirement under the Supplemental Pension Program
and/or the Non Tax-Qualified Pension Plan to ensure you vest in
this valuable
Election Period - The 2009 VERP is being offered for a very limited period of
time. To retire under the 2009 VERP, your signed Election Form and Release Form
must be received, signed and dated by a representative at your location's
Employee Benefits Office on or before 5:00 p.m. (local time) on February 4,
2009. Once submitted, your election cannot be revoked without Company consent.
Voluntary Early Retirement Program - 2009 (continued)
Personalized 2009 VERP Information - Enclosed with this cover letter are the
following personalized exhibits to help you make an informed decision as well
as the forms necessary to make your election, including:
* Summary
* Severance
* Vesting
* Pension
* Health Care
* Additional Information
* Election Form
* Release Form
The exhibits provide estimated benefit calculations using preliminary
assumptions; your actual retirement benefit calculations will be made when you
retire.
Supplemental Severance Benefit - Part of the Total Regular Pension - lump sum
benefit outlined in your personalized Pension exhibit is shown as payable form
the USS Pension Plan. However, due to restrictions under the Internal Revenue
Code relating to plan amendments to tax-qualified plans, the enhancements shown
as payable from the USS Pension Plan cannot be paid from the tax-qualified
trust. Instead, this amount will be paid to you as a supplemental Severance
Benefit upon your retirement under the 2009 VERP (instead of from the USS
pension plan). This supplemental benefit is in addition to the Severance
Benefit outlined in your personalized Severance exhibit. In addition, a tax
allowance of 35% of the supplemental Severance Benefit will be paid to assist
you with income taxes and other withholding taxes on the supplemental Severance
Benefit. The exact amount of the supplemental Severance Benefit will be
determined when you retire.
Further Assistance - Representatives at your location's Employee Benefits Office
are prepared to assist you throughout the 2009 VERP election period. You are
encouraged to:
* e-mail pensions@uss.com to get prompt answers to your questions;
* visit the Employee Portal at http://employee.uss.com (Quick Links section)
to read frequently asked questions and answers on the 2009 VERP. Also,
visit the Life Events section for retirement choices, procedures and
important retirement considerations;
* consult with your personal attorney, accountant and/or financial advisor;
and
* participate in one of the 2009 VERP informational sessions that will be
held via conference calls during the week of January 19. Details
will be provided to you in an e-mail.
As U. S. Steel continues to adapt to the ever-changing global economy, we will
continue to monitor the size of our workforce in relationship to our customers'
demands and our profitability. We are hopeful that the 2009 VERP and other
actions we are taking to reduce costs will be sufficient; however, due to the
uncertain business conditions, we cannot rule out the possibility of future
layoffs.
Thank you for your consideration of the 2009 VERP and how it can benefit you.
Sincerely,
Susan M. Suver
Enclosures