I read your editorial “Are there any guarantees with Nippon Steel?” (Nov. 23, TribLive). As a steelworker, I wanted to share my perspective.
I started my career at U.S. Steel in 1977, had to leave the company for four years because of the horrible downturn in the industry in the 1980s, and plan to end my career here at the Clairton plant. It’s not an easy job. But talk to any steelworker around, and you’ll find out quickly that we love our jobs because they are hard and give us plenty of challenges, but also lots of opportunities. For many of us, we love it because it was what we grew up with, our families having worked in steel mills. That’s my case. I am a proud third-generation steelworker.
You ask about “guarantees” with Nippon. We’ve seen the arbitration board’s decision and the numerous commitments in writing from Nippon Executive Vice President Takahiro Mori, who is leading the project for Nippon. I’ll leave the legal issues to the lawyers, but let me tell you what I know and have experienced since the announcement was made last December.
First, I understand the gut reaction of being scared of this iconic company being owned by a foreign company. I felt the same way. But I spent time getting to understand the facts because I don’t think it’s acceptable to be ignorant about something that affects so many people’s livelihoods. I’ve talked to Mori directly. I told him my concerns, and he listened and answered. There were things that were not within his control, but he said that he would bring them up to David McCall, United Steelworkers International president, should McCall finally agree to meet in person. Up to now, McCall has refused Mori’s invitations for a meeting. I’ve seen Mori a couple of times at my plant and in the community. I haven’t seen USW leadership once.
And let’s all be honest about what’s been going on in the Mon Valley. Clairton was built in the early 1900s, and it’s not like the money for upgrades has been pouring in. Compare that to what Nippon has committed to in writing. At least $2.7 billion to update facilities and secure jobs for the future of the steel industry. Here’s a big player coming in willing to spend a significant amount of money. That’s more than we have now or can expect to have without this deal.
Second, Mori has said they won’t close down U.S. Steel plants or ship jobs or coils overseas, but will focus on building up the integrated mills. That makes sense to me. Why would a company spend nearly $15 billion and guarantee nearly $3 billion more on something they just plan to shut down? It’s not what Nippon did when they bought the plant now known as Wheeling Nippon, and I see no reason for them to do it here.
And finally, I know that there’s one thing in life that’s constant, and that’s change. No matter what, change is going to happen in the Mon Valley. I believe that this opportunity with Nippon is the best deal to give the men and women I work with a future that is secure for them and their families.
I walk the floor every day at the Clairton Plant, talking to many USW members and multi-generation steelworkers. With all due respect to the writer of the editorial, our members are “buying it.” We want a future that is strong, and we want to stay in Pennsylvania making steel. Working with Nippon is the best way to do that.
With so many for this deal, who would want to be against it?
Andy Macey is a maintenance technician at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Works and member of USW Local 1557.
