U.S. Steel employees rally in support of proposed sale to Nippon Steel
CLAIRTON, Pa. (KDKA) — Employees of U.S. Steel rallied on Thursday in support of the company's proposed sale to Japan-based Nippon Steel.
The rally outside the Clairton plant came one day after Bloomberg News reported President Joe Biden is preparing to block the sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel on national security grounds. Those in attendance pleaded with Biden to approve Nippon Steel's purchase of U.S. Steel.
There are just 10 days until a panel reviewing the deal has to give its decision to the president.
"Our transaction with Nippon Steel is the last and unfortunately the best hope to preserve and grow our integrated steel-making and union jobs, said Scott Buckiso, senior vice president and chief manufacturing officer of U.S. Steel. "Not just here in the Mon Valley, but across our entire footprint. The transaction with Nippon Steel will ensure the legacy of U.S. Steel will continue and continue to thrive for generations to come."
Jason Zugai, vice president of Irvin Local 2227, said he had an "uneasy feeling" when he first heard Nippon Steel won the bid to purchase U.S. Steel, but his feelings have changed.
"This incredible deal will solidify all of our jobs for decades to come," Zugai said.
While some of the steelworkers support the proposed deal, United Steelworkers union leadership opposes the sale. Some speakers on Thursday took aim at union boss David McCall.
"These are the men and the women that the leaders in Washington, D.C. need to hear from," said Kurt Barshick, vice president of U.S. Steel Mon Valley Works. "They don't need to hear from the Cleveland Cliffs fan club on the 12th floor of the USW office."
A USW spokesperson provided a statement from McCall. It said the union's "only priority has been the long-term viability of their facilities and our domestic steel industry." He said in the statement that "Nippon is a serial trade cheater and U.S. Steel is viable as a standalone company."
The spokesperson said McCall believes the deal must be blocked to protect jobs, their industry and our national security.
Mon Valley is "dead" if there is no deal, mayor says
Clairton's mayor said a deal is needed to revive the Mon Valley.
"This is very critical. Time is running out, and this has to get done," Clairton Mayor Richard Lattanzi said on Thursday.
"We have to get this deal done," the mayor added. "If not, the Mon Valley is dead."
In September, U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt said it will "largely pivot away" from its blast furnace facilities, putting thousands of union jobs at risk, without a sale. U.S. Steel added that a lack of a deal "raises serious questions" about keeping its headquarters in Pittsburgh.
Thursday's rally featured hundreds of U.S. Steel employees in Clairton and workers from U.S. Steel facilities across the country who joined virtually. They all shared the unified message that the deal must go through.
"You can't stop this deal," steelworker Andrew Macey said. "We need this, we need this desperately."
