P.M. BRIEFING : USX, Steelworkers Open Talks

CORAOPOLIS, Pa. — USX Corp., the nation’s largest steelmaker, opened contract talks today with the United Steelworkers union.

USX Corp., with profits of $212 million in the second quarter, is on record that it does not intend to follow other contracts recently negotiated in the steel industry, labeled as too generous by USX Chairman Charles Corry.

But the USW is looking at a pattern of sweetened contracts in the industry, particularly one reached with Bethlehem Steel last year, as its guide.

The two sides have set a target date of Nov. 10 to reach a new contract. The current agreement, reached after a bitter six-month strike in 1986 and 1987, expires Feb. 1. It covers 18,000 USX steel and mining workers in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Alabama and California.