Inside Report (6)

Who's next in line to seek concessions from its unions? The steel industry.

Suffering from competition from cheap foreign steel that has captured 25 percent of the US market, and record-high US labor costs ($22.40 an hour), the industry is expected to ask for early contract talks and wage and benefits concessions from workers. Present contracts don't run out until Aug. 31, 1983.

The United Steelworkers and the industry are cooperating in efforts to slap curbs on steel imports. But union president Lloyd McBride says the industry ''will have to be very persuasive and cooperative'' if joint efforts are to be extended to early bargaining and possible union concessions to cut costs.